Ramen: Not Just Cup O' Noodles Anymore

Ramen noodles.  I'm not sure I know anyone, college student or otherwise, who doesn't have at least one package in their kitchen somewhere.  There's no denying that ramen is a cheap, quick, easy meal to prepare - perfect for lunch, dinner, breakfast, or late night snack (trust me - I've done all of the above).  How can you get any cheaper than going for a cup of ramen?  The answer: using the ramen that comes in brick form which is typically less than 25 cents a package.

For a long time I only thought that cup ramen could be prepared in the microwave for somewhat obvious reasons. Cup ramen is made for the microwave and on the back of the block ramen it looks like you need a pan and stove.  Here is how to make block ramen in a microwave.  You need: microwave-safe tupperware container, water, and brick ramen.  Put a couple cups of water in your tupperware and heat it in the microwave until its really hot (time depends on microwave).  Then take the tupperware out, put the noodles in the hot water, and put it back in the microwave for another two minutes.  Take the ramen out of the microwave, add the seasoning, stir and enjoy.

Sometimes, though, you want a little more than just ramen.  You may or may not have much in your kitchen.  So you do what you can with what you have.  If you have some leftover cooked meat from the other night, cut it up and put it in.  Have some vegetables in the fridge?  Whether they are fresh or frozen, you can put them in your ramen (if frozen, I'd recommend thawing them a little first).  Want to spice it up?  Add hot sauce, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning...whatever you have and whatever you're in the mood for.

What else can you do with ramen?  As a kid, it was trendy at my elementary school to eat it dry like you would potato chips with the seasoning packet in place of salt.  You also have a wider range of alternative noodle dishes if you leave out the seasoning.  If you have pasta sauce but no pasta, you can cook the ramen, drain the water, and add your sauce.  You can also do the same thing, but instead of pasta sauce add some salad dressing and maybe vegetables and you have a pasta salad.  Ramen can also be used as a side dish to whatever else you may want for dinner.

Ramen: inexpensive, fast, and satisfying.  It's esteemed place in my apartment kitchen shall not be overtaken anytime soon.

**ramen picture used under Creative Commons - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinprick/3630858688/