Bachelor on the Cheap

This is comfort food Ramen style!

By Mike Thayer

Yes, Ramen is a budget meal, but it certainly doesn't have to taste like one.

Today's Ramen hack is all about tender chunks of pork to enjoy with those noodles.  The beauty of this recipe is that you don't need the seasoning packet, which has A LOT of sodium.  I don't use those packets in the preparation of Ramen anymore, preferring instead to use low sodium beef, chicken or vegetable stocks, or to do what I've done here with this recipe.  All the flavor you need comes from the leftover pork and sour cream.  I prefer baked pork chops for this, which were simply seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Parmesan cheese and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 4-6 ounces of leftover pork chops, sliced or cubed, it really doesn't matter as long as the pieces are all about the same size.
• 1 package of Ramen noodles (the flavor doesn't really matter, but do NOT use the flavor packet, save it for another purpose, another day)
• 2 cups water
• 2 heaping Tablespoons of sour cream
• 4 ounces of mushrooms (optional)

Directions

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, warm up the olive oil.  Throw the pork into the hot pan to warm it up a bit and allow the spices on the pork to marry up with the olive oil.  Let the pork warm through for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Smash up the Ramen noodles (optional), I like to smash mine up because although eating them at regular chop sticks is fun, I like to dig into this particular Ramen with a spoon.  Toss in the noodles, then add 2 cups of water.  Stir to incorporate.  Dump in the sour cream, stir to incorporate, cook for 3 minutes.  When that timer goes off, give things another quick stir, turn off the heat and let the noodles and pork sit for another 3 minutes.  This allows the noodles to fully absorb the seasoning and Parmesan cheese from the meat and that sour cream, which turns into a sauce.  Garnish with chopped green onion and you've got yourself a nice bowl of Ramen comfort food!

Alternate uses for the seasoning packet...  These things just pack too much sodium.  One packet contains 1520mg of sodium, that's 66% of the daily recommended intake in one meal...  No thanks.  I save these for another day and typically use them in soups, to supplement whatever flavor I'm cooking up in a big batch.  I'll use a beef packet in a big batch of chili or beef barley soup.  I'll use a chicken packet to supplement a batch of chicken noodle soup.  Basically, any recipe that calls for beef, chicken or fish stock, whatever, replace that with a seasoning packet and water.  The key though is going big, a batch of something.  Chili that serves eight people for example, spreads that 1520mg of sodium down to 190mg per serving,  well within the recommended daily intake and you're not sacrificing on flavor with this repurpose.  Making gravy is another good repurpose, but remember, multiple servings is key.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

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Ready to eat in less about five minutes

By Mike Thayer

This is easier and faster than making a box of Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese!

Ingredients

• 2 packages of chicken flavored Ramen.  I like the chicken for this one, it goes better with the cheese.  Pork is my #2. 
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tab of butter
• 1 packet of the chicken flavoring.  Save the other packet for something else, another day.
• 4 slices of American cheese, or whatever cheese you have on hand, shredded cheddar works great.
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic (garlic powder is a good alternative)
• 5 slices of deli ham, shredded or sliced
• 1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley for garnish

Directions

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, bring the water, milk, chicken flavoring and butter to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and add the American cheese, gently stirring until melted.  Crush the noodles in the Ramen packages and pour into the sauce.  Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to incorporate.  Remove from heat, cover and let the noodles absorb the sauce until they reach the desired consistency, about 3 minutes. 

A budget mac 'n' cheese meal, enjoy!

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Enjoy this post?

If you appreciate the article you just read and want to support more great content on BachelorontheCheap.com, you can help keep this site going with a one-time or a monthly donation.  Thank you so much for your support! ~ Mike

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Ramen noodles getting all happy in butter!

By Mike Thayer

Having a salad but don't have any croutons, crackers or other crunchy element to top it with?

Break open a bag of Ramen.

My mom taught me this one back in the day when she was looking for something different to do in putting together a quick salad.  She simply crushed up the noodles and let the salad dressing do all the flavoring.  That was good and the noodles definitely gave you the crunch factor, but I've kicked things up a couple notches since then.

Ingredients:

• One package of Ramen noodles, crushed into small pieces
• One tablespoon butter
• One tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flake
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

It's Another Dose of YUM!

Heat up a small non-stick skillet over medium heat.  Melt the butter, add the crushed Ramen noodles, stir to coat all the noodles in the butter.   Add the salt and pepper, stir and let cook for about 5 minutes or until the noodles start to turn a light brown.  Add the Parmesan cheese and parsley flake, stir to incorporate and when the Parmesan starts to turn golden brown the noodle croutons are done!  Place on a paper towel lined paper plate and allow to cool.  Serve on a tossed salad.  You can't buy seasoned croutons for the price of a package of Ramen!  But fair warning, these things are quite tasty, they also make a great stand alone snack and may not make it to the salad!

By Mike Thayer

Yes, you can turn instant Ramen soup into something like this...

Ramen soup, it's cheap, it's a budget food, a single-person's food, a plan 'B' food, a college dorm food, a don't-know-what-else-to-have-so-this-will-have-to-do food...

But don't just make it per the package instructions, liven things up!

There are ALL KINDS OF THINGS you can do to kick instant Ramen Soup up another notch.

With Asian flavors in mind, you can add any number of oils, sauces, pastes, etc., to deepen the flavor of the broth.  You can add additional ingredients to make the soup more hearty and robust.  And making it a lot more visually appealing while also adding some additional flavor, there's all kinds of 'toppers' you can add to the dish.

Oil, Sauces, Etc.

• Sesame Oil (don't overdo it, a little bit goes a long way)
• Hot Chili Oil
• Fish Sauce
• Hoison Sauce
• Oyster Sauce
• Gochujang
• Peanut Butter
• Curry Paste
• Coconut Milk
• Sriracha
• Chicken Stock (use low sodium stocks instead of water and skip the high sodium flavor packet!)
• Beef Stock
• Vegetable Stock
• Fish stock

Add-Ins

• Any kind of deli lunch meat - sliced in strips
• Leftover meats, roasted chicken, roast beef, oven baked ham, brisket - shredded
• Leftover shrimp, fish (don't use anything that was breaded)
• Mushrooms
• Carrots, diced or julienned
• White, yellow or sweet onions, sliced thin or diced
• Red Pepper flake
• Garlic, minced or powder
• Ginger powder or fresh, sliced mandolin thin
• Bok Choy, chopped
• Baby Spinach, fresh
• Peas
• Jalapeno pepper or Fresno pepper (nice red color), chopped
• Egg (Egg Drop Soup style)

Toppers, a.k.a., Garnish

• Egg, medium boiled, sliced
• Bacon, chopped
• Cilantro, chopped
• Parsley, chopped
• Green onion, chopped
• Leeks, chopped
• Roasted Sesame Seeds
• Bamboo Shoots
• Bean Sprouts

The options are only limited by your imagination and you don't have to stick with Asian flavors either.  I've made 'classic' chicken noodle (Ramen) soup before, vegetable beef soup and yes, even a beer cheese soup with Ramen.

You can really elevate instant Ramen, something so inexpensive, creating a comfort food with deep flavors and great textures - something you might have a dinner guest comparing it favorably to something they had in a restaurant and asking you for the recipe.  And bonus, Ramen is an excellent vehicle for not only incorporating fresh ingredients, but making smart use of leftovers.

By Mike Thayer

If you don't have any pork flavored Ramen on hand, beef works too

Ramen soup, it's cheap, it's a budget food, a single-person's food, a plan 'B' food, a college dorm food, a don't-know-what-else-to-have-so-this-will-have-to-do food...

Don't just make it per the package instructions, liven things up!  And what a great way to use up some of those holiday ham leftovers...

Fire up the stove, heat up a sauce pan.  Throw in a tab of butter and some olive oil.  Next, rough chop some carrots and onions, throw them in the pan and let them cook a bit until they are tender crisp.  Toss in some of that leftover ham, chopped.  Grab a package of pork flavored Ramen soup (beef actually works too), put it in the pan with 2 cups of water. Add some garlic powder, a dash of black pepper, a dash of Louisiana hot sauce, a couple liberal dashes of Soy or Teriyaki sauce and 3 minutes later you've got a great bowl of soup!  Enjoy!  Other great adds to make your soup more robust with flavor is peas and/or mushrooms.

By Mike Thayer

Looking outside my apartment window this morning, I see ice covered vehicles, frozen fog.....

It's a work day and part of my job means spending some time outside, it's going to be a cold one....

Can you say, "Soup for lunch?"

Yes, yes you can....

Make no mistake, winter is here and there's nothing quite as satisfying in addressing both the cold and hunger, than a hearty bowl of soup.

So how do you get a good bowl of soup during a 30 minute lunch break and no restaurant nearby with soup on the menu?

Embrace the crock pot

The crock pot is an easy, quick way to put a few things for a soup together before work and let those flavors simmer all morning, developing a great tasting broth.

Here's the Bachelor on the Cheap way, using a package of pork flavored Ramen.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• One package of pork flavored Ramen soup
• 4-6 ounces of leftover ham or pork roast, roughly chopped
• One teaspoon garlic powder
• One Tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6-8 baby carrots
• One stalk (rib) of celery, chopped (optional)

Directions:

Pour the water into the crock pot and put it on the high setting.  Pour in the contents of the pork flavor packet from the Ramen, set the noodles aside (these get introduced later, much later).  Add all remaining ingredients, give it a quick stir and put the lid on.  While you are at work, these flavors are going to get all happy!  Come lunch time, put those Ramen noodles in a bowl and pour that crock pot soup over the top, cover the bowl with a saucer plate for about 3-4 minutes to soften the noodles.  Enjoy! 

Taking maybe five minutes to prepare, this soup is hearty enough to hold you until dinner with all that delicious pork, and that hot broth takes the edge off the cold.  This soup is also Bachelor on the Cheap friendly, costing only about $1.25 to put together, if that!  Try getting a couple bowls of soup at a restaurant for just $1.25.......

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Help support the continued content for Shopping, Dining, Best Deals, Product & Service Reviews, Tips, Hacks, Recipes and other great information by buying me a coffee. Your support to keep Bachelor on the Cheap a free resource is much appreciated! ~ Mike

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By Mike Thayer

Even if you don't like to indulge in the occasional bowl of Ramen, surely you like noodles.  

Some people eat Ramen purely for budgetary reasons.  Some people truly like it.  Most people fall into a category that includes both, they like Ramen and it's easy on the wallet.

It's all about the noodles.

And that's why you need to keep some packages of Ramen on hand, in your pantry at all times.  The flavor doesn't matter, beef, chicken, shrimp, mushroom, whatever.....  You've got instant noodles at the ready for whatever you feel like eating.  I've written before about turning some Ramen noodles into a spaghetti dish, because that was what I was craving.  Today I'm having Chili over some Ramen noodles.

The noodles are great because they only take 3 minutes to cook and it doesn't take a pot full of water to do it.

Like the aforementioned 'spaghetti', other uses for Ramen noodles are:  Crunching up uncooked Ramen noodles to put on a salad; they work great in noodle casseroles of all types; plain, cooked Ramen noodles are fantastic in stir fry; and if you're feeling adventurous, Ramen noodles make a great hamburger bun.  For the most part, any recipe calling for some kind of noodle....  Ramen noodles can be used in a pinch or a twist!

And about those flavor packets... They aren't exclusive to making a bowl of Ramen.  I've got them in surplus in my spice cabinet for any number of uses.  I might use a chicken packet to make a quick chicken broth to braise a pan of chicken breasts with.  I'll use a beef packet to add some punch to a beef gravy.  If I'm making some kind of fish dish, a shrimp packet comes in handy to make a nice quick pan sauce with.  Adding a packet of the mushroom flavor for a cream sauce to pour over that cast iron seared steak is easy and delicious!  If you're not familiar with bouillon cubes, that's essentially what a flavor packet in the package of Ramen is.

Noodle up on some Ramen!  If you're not already a fan, you'll become one.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Help support the continued content for Shopping, Dining, Best Deals, Product & Service Reviews, Tips, Hacks, Recipes and other great information by buying me a coffee. Your support to keep Bachelor on the Cheap a free resource is much appreciated! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

By Mike Thayer 

Can a person get tired of eating just burgers?  HECK NO!

In a celebration of summer, yours truly is celebrating with what is THE iconic food of summer, the burger.  For a week, lunch and dinner will feature some sort of burger, starting off with a classic cheeseburger and then going on an adventure from there.  The adventure will travel through flavors from around the globe, Mexican, Mediterranean, Asian and more!  There will be a variety in spices, toppings and meats!

For Day 6, it's dinner in Asia!  This burger features the flavors of General Tsao and a Ramen noodle bun.  When you sink your teeth into it, it's kind of like a giant, beefy, egg roll bite! 

The Asian Burger

Ingredients:

• One pound of ground beef
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 Tablespoon dried minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake
• a healthy squirt of sriracha
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger
• The juice of one lime
• Two packages of Ramen noodles
• One egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup canola oil to fry the Ramen noodles
• One carrot, sliced julienne
• 1/4 cup cabbage, sliced thin
• One green onion, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

 Directions:
In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, soy sauce, minced onion, minced garlic, brown sugar, pepper flake, sriracha, ginger and lime juice.  Mix until well incorporated and chill for about 2 hours.  While the ground beef is chilling, prepare your Ramen 'buns.'  Cook the noodles per the package instructions.  Pull the noodles from the liquid and chill.  Reserve the liquid for another use.  Once the noodles are cooled and it's getting close to burger readiness time, it's time to make Ramen 'buns.'  Ramen noodle packages are typically separated into two noodle blocks per package, you'll need three blocks to create 'buns' for one burger, a 3-1 ratio.  Mix three blocks with the beaten egg, form into bun size top and bottom portions, keep separated and chill.  When ready, heat up the canola oil in a shallow frying pan and fry the noodles, about two minutes per side.  And surely by now, you've formed the burger patties and grilled the burgers over direct heat, about five minutes per side.   Serve the burgers topped with the sliced carrots, cabbage and green onion (giving you that egg roll kind of bite) with salt and pepper to taste and on the Ramen bun for a FANTASTIC crunch bite!

Did you notice?  There's no cheese on this burger.  Why not?  Because cheese isn't necessary! 

This burger cost only about $1.99 to prepare.  Try spending just that at a fast food restaurant for all that Asian influence deliciousness!

Stay tuned for more great burger recipes like the "Classic," "Idaho," "Meatloaf," "Pizza," "Thanksgiving," "Cajun," "Mediterranean," "California," "Mexican," "Garlic Chicken Curry," "French Dip," "Asian" and more, it's the Bachelor on the Cheap Burger Challenge!

www.grillinggoodeats.com

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Help support the continued content for Shopping, Dining, Best Deals, Product & Service Reviews, Tips, Hacks, Recipes and other great information by buying me a coffee. Your support to keep Bachelor on the Cheap a free resource is much appreciated! ~ Mike

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By Mike Thayer

Ramen soup, it's cheap, it's a budget food, a single-person's food, a plan 'B' food, a college dorm food, a don't-know-what-else-to-have-so-this-will-have-to-do food...

Don't just make it per the package instructions, liven things up!

Make a quick egg drop soup.

Prepare the Ramen chicken soup as normal....   Add a dash of garlic powder, a dash of black pepper and a green onion, roughly chopped.  Beat an egg slightly and slowly pour it into the hot soup, stirring clockwise for about a minute.

And there you have it, Ramen egg drop soup.....

I like to add a bit of Louisiana Hot Sauce to mine, sometimes it's a splash of soy sauce.  Enjoy.

$pend Wisely My Friends...

Help support the continued content for Shopping, Dining, Best Deals, Product & Service Reviews, Tips, Hacks, Recipes and other great information by buying me a coffee. Your support to keep Bachelor on the Cheap a free resource is much appreciated! ~ Mike

follow me on twitter @Bacheloronthe1

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