If you want to spruce up the boring bowl of ramen noodles, then I have something for you. A simple yet hearty soup that will take a bit of work but trust me, it’s all worth it. Especially with the snow and cold weather that doesn’t to seem to want to go away. This ramen noodles soup with all the fixings will sure give you the warm and cozy feeling you desperately need.

INGREDIENTS : (serves 2 adults and 2 kids)

• 3 packs of ramen noodles (pick a flavor)
• 6-7 cups of water
• 6 slices of bacon, chopped finely
• half of medium onion, chopped finely
• 6-7 pieces of napa cabbage, sliced in small pieces
• 6 button mushroom, sliced in small pieces
• poached or boiled eggs (optional), 1 egg /person
• 4 cilantro pieces, chopped finely
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• chili garlic sauce (optional)

Boil the water. Midway into boiling, poach the eggs.

If you already have boiled eggs in hand, ignore the poaching steps.

Take the eggs out of the water, set aside and continue to boil the water. Once the water is boiling, add the ramen noodles. Let the noodles cook al dente. Kinda like cooking any pasta.

In another pan, brown bacon. Then add the onions. Let that cook. Then add the mushrooms. Once that’s cooked, add the napa cabbage. Cook the veggies. Season with the ramen noodles seasoning from the pack.

In a bowl, ladle ramen noodles with the soup water, top it with the vegetable & bacon mixture, an egg, and sprinkle a bit of cilantro. It’s up to you if you want to add the hot spices. I personally like it hot so I say bring it on .

If you’re adding a boiled egg, make sure to slice them in small pieces first. It would be easier to eat it like that. With poached egg, the yolk would mixed into the hot broth which makes it even more delicious.

By the way, you don’t have to use bacon. Any leftover meats would do as well. Or no meat at all. You can use shrimp too if you want. Whichever you prefer really. Or stick to the plain boring ramen noodles. After seeing this though I highly doubt you’d ever want to go back to just eating the latter. Feel free to slurp away .

(Images : Feistycook / Robust Cooking)

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Ramen Noodles With All The Fixings Please

I don’t know about your family by my own loves it when I make breakfast for dinner. I don’t cook breakfast during the week, only on the weekends. That’s probably why they love it when dinner is breakfast. What I love about this kind of meal for dinner is that I don’t have to be creative about it. I don’t have to thaw anything either. How hard can it be to slice potatoes in cubes for hash, fry up some bacon and then eggs? The only major decision is whether to make scrambled eggs or fried ones (whole yolk and all).

The breakfast picture above was our dinner tonight. No frills meal which everyone enjoyed.

For the potatoes, I sliced 4 medium red potatoes in cubes and cooked them in a non stick pan with melted butter. Sprinkles of paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper were the seasonings.

So how about some breakfast for tonight or tomorrow’s dinner?

(Image : Dexie Jane Wharton / Robust Cooking)

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Who Likes Breakfast For Dinner?

Red board for meat, white for cooked foods, blue for fish, and green for veggies/fruits. A color-coded chopping boards to avoid cross contaminations. The indexed cutting boards even have a filing unit for easy storage.  I have been wanting to buy myself this but haven’t had a chance to do so. I think as soon as we’re moved to a new place, this will be something new that I’ll be adding in my kitchen. Not only do I love the different colors, the obvious fact that there’s a cutting board for each food item is the best reason to buy it. $85 at MoMa store.

(Image : MoMa)

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Indexed Cutting Boards

One of my family’s favorite chicken dish is this lemon chicken that get a lot of compliments from my son who happens to be the picky eater in the family. This is one dish where I don’t have to tell him to finish his dinner. I don’t cook separate dishes (unless for spicy dishes) for every member of the family so If we go through dinner without having to tell anyone to finish what’s on their plate is a welcome experience.

INGREDIENTS :

• 4-5 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 can chicken stock
• juice of 1 medium lemon
• butter (1 stick maybe)

The "rule" in handling boneless chicken is to cover them with saran wrap then flatten by pounding. To be honest, I’m so busy to be pounding boneless chicken these days. What I do is slice the boneless chicken breasts evenly in half. Not only do you get thin slices of chicken, you also double the amount. So if you have 4 boneless chicken pieces, slice them in half (evenly in the middle), you’ll end up with 8 pieces. How’s that for cooking affordably?

Step By Step Process :

In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Drench the chicken pieces with the flour mixture on both sides. Set them aside on a plate.

Reserve about 3 tbsp of that flour mixture.

Melt 1/2 stick of butter on a non-stick pan. Cook each side of the chicken, about 8-10 minutes on each side. You’ll have to do this in 2 batches most probably. Add more butter on the pan if necessary. Place the cooked chicken on a clean plate.

Using the same pan, melt the remaining butter. Sprinkle the reserved flour. Whisk everything together with the cooked bits on the pan. You’re basically making a gravy. Once the flour is golden brown, slowly add the chicken stock. Continue whisking. Add the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.

The sauce should be thickened. You can either put the cooked chicken on the lemon gravy or pour it on the chicken. For presentation purposes I opted for the pouring method.

Serve with steamed white rice and steamed veggies like broccoli, green beans, or asparagus.

(Images : Dexie Jane Wharton / Robust Cooking)

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Family’s Favorite Lemon Chicken

But what do you do with a can or bag of chickpeas? Below are some healthy ideas for incorporating chickpeas into your next meal.

1. Make hummus.
2. Toss them in a fresh salad.
3. Eat them out of the can (this one was from a friend – I personally find the idea repellent!).
4. Mix them with tabouleh.
5. Make falafel.
6. Include them in a bean salad.
7. Add them to soup.
8. Roast them with chicken.
9. Incorporate them into a pasta dish.
10. Make chickpea marsala.

Image: sxc.hu

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10 Ways To Use Chickpeas

In French these are called langues de boeuf, meaning beef tongues, which is hardly an appealing way to describe these incredibly delicate, crunchy cookies. They start out like a classic palmier but then get rolled in more powdered sugar until they’re as thin and soft as a piece of chamois. As they bake, the sugar melts into a shiny glaze and the layers of pastry don’t puff, they just crisp. I love to eat them on their own, but they make a fun partner to a bowl of ice cream or any kind of mousse or pudding.

Makes about 44 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar, plus more as needed
• 1 sheet (about 9 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted, if using non-butter pastry
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

Dust the counter with powdered sugar, lay out the sheet of pastry, dust it with more powdered sugar nd roll, turning frequently and dusting with more sugar each time, until you have an 11-by-14-inch rectangle. (You may notice the dough getting sticky as the sugar pulls moisture from it; just add a little more sugar.
Arrange the rectangle horizontally in front of you. If using non-butter pastry, drizzle the pastry evenly with the melted butter. Mix the granulated sugar with the salt and distribute evenly over the whole surface of the pastry.

Fold both short sides so they meet in the center, then fold their edges again to meet in the center. Fold in half like a book, pressing gently to seal the two sides together. Wrap in plastic and chill for about 20 minutes to firm up.

When ready to bake, heat the oven to 400 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Dust the work surface with more powdered sugar. Cut the pastry into 1/4-inch slices. With a rolling pin, roll each slice until it’s a long oval, about 1/32 inch thick. As you roll, turn frequently, dusting each side with powdered sugar, aiming to roll as much as possible into the pastry.

Transfer the ovals to the lined baking sheet and bake until the cookies are evenly glazed and deep amber, about 4 minutes. With a spatula (the sugar is very hot), transfer the cookies to a cooling rack; they’ll crisp as they cool.

Do ahead: You can wrap and freeze the rolled “log” of pastry for up to one month, allowing the pastry to thaw only slightly before slicing and baking. If the weather isn’t too humid, you can store these in an airtight container for up to one day.

Photo credit: Puff (Chronicle Books, 2008)

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Caramel-Lacquered Wafers for Valentine’s Day

Phil breaks down a head to head comparison on how to swap out typical football fare for more wallet-friendly and tasty options to show how you can save up to $50 for your party this Sunday.

Think frozen: Ordering in pizza and wings is more expensive than cooking up items from the frozen food aisle. Grab some Banquet frozen wings in Hot & Spicy or Honey BBQ and some frozen pizzas. Pop them in the oven during the 1st quarter for a deliciously easy half-time meal. They’ll be hot from the oven and besides being a lot tastier, you’ll be eating all white meat chicken.

Comparison: 2 Delivery Pizzas & 2 Orders of Wings: $53 v. 4 Frozen Pizzas & 2 Sets of Frozen Wings: $22

You Save: $30

Simplify Snacks – Snacking is a huge part of watching the game, for many it’s the ONLY physical activity they will do over 3 hours. But, chips and dips can add up very fast. Popcorn is a simple, cost efficient way to feed fans, add whole grains that will fill up your guests (while lowering their cholesterol) and it smells great. Mix and match flavors like SmartPop!, Movie Theatre Butter and Lime & Salt from Orville Redenbacher’s.

Comparison: 2 types of Chips & Dip: $12 v. 2 boxes of Microwave Popcorn: $7.38

You Save: $4.62

Go Big – Crock pot meals are a satisfying way to serve a meal to your guests. And what would SuperBowl be without a great “homemade” chili! Chili made from California grown and packed Hunt’s canned tomatoes, beans and ground beef is a really inexpensive meal that is simple to make and goes a long way. Throw everything in the crock pot the morning of the party and you’ll have a great tasting meal for your guests.

Comparison: Take Out Chili: $30 v. Homemade Chili: $9

You Save: $21

Delegate – Having the crew over for the game can put a dent in your wallet. To cut costs, ask your friends to help with some of the food and drink items. If you plan to prepare the entire meal, delegate the drinks and dessert.

Comparison: Drinks and dessert can cost up to $50 dollars or even more, divvying up the costs among friends will cost them just a couple of dollars.

You Save: $50

Think Ahead – Make out a SuperBowl Shopping List before you head to the store. Those in store displays with giant footballs, good looking players and cheerleaders are designed to make you spend more. Resist! Keep an eye out for coupons and be sure to carry your frequent shopper card when heading to the store. Using your grocery store savings card and coupons can save you up to a dollar an item.

You Save: $10 – 20

Fresh in February – Knowing that fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive in winter, look for alternative in your recipes. Making bruschetta with canned fire-roasted Hunt’s petite diced tomatoes instead of fresh is a great way to create a fresh-tasting snack for less.

Comparison: 2 Fresh Tomatoes: $4 v. Canned Tomatoes: $2.69

You Save: $1.31

Photo credit: sxc.hu

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Saving Money on Your Super Bowl Party

But, rather than dwelling on the problem for too long, let’s dive into some solutions. The first is to take a good look at what’s really essential. Do I really need that many frying pans? How often do I use a juicer? There is a tiny bit of extra closet space down the hall and a storage unit downstairs – sure it may not be convenient, but there’s just not the space to have everything on display.

The drawers in this kitchen are probably the most disappointing feature – there’s not a cutlery tray out there that would fit in this teeny space. A stainless steel container on the counter may not be optimal but it does the trick.

Finally, it’s all about the art of stacking. Organizers for lids and extra stands to make more room in wide open cabinets make it possible to truly maximize the space and not go crazy when the perfect pan is under twelve other cooking tools.

The process for getting organized may be a little bit painful, but in the end making it easier to find what you’re looking for only means more time for cooking. So even if you’re not settling into a new kitchen too, now might be the perfect time to go through your culinary workspace anyway.

Image: sxc.hu

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Essential Tips For Kitchen Organization

Many researchers say chocolate can have a positive effect in reducing blood pressure. High blood pressure causes many serious conditions if left unchecked including heart attacks and stroke. However, you can reduce the damaging effects quickly by reducing your blood pressure.

Studies have shown that chocolate’s benefits to heart health come from a substance in cocoa that helps the body to process nitric oxide. This is a compound that is critical for a healthy heart because it helps blood to flow and regulates blood pressure. Another substance in cocoa helps to prevent clogging in the arteries by making platelets less likely to stick together.

In this way, eating chocolate has a similar effect to regularly taking aspirin to promote blood flow, but the effect is not as long-lasting or potent. The power of chocolate in enhancing nitric oxide synthesis, though, is being researched by plenty of scientists throughout the world that are trying to establish a connection between tasty chocolate and health benefits. If this were proven true, chocolate would officially become a great addition to the diet, as long as it is introduced moderately.

Other health benefits that have been associated to eating chocolate include stronger hair and nails and more energy. While some of these findings haven’t been scientifically proven, many people believe in their merits. If you have brittle hair and nails or you need a pick-me-up during the day, consider adding a bit of chocolate to your diet to see if you see similar results.

Because most forms of chocolate are high in fat and carbohydrates, limit yourself to a reasonable quantity. The best news for chocolate lovers is that you don’t have to eliminate it from you diet entirely. So, make a new resolution and allow yourself to enjoy chocolate every once in a while!

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Leave your comments here and let us know.

^{Photo credit: sxc.hu}

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Chocolate Can Be Good for You

But when it comes to my time, I get rather protective. Instead of falling back on old habits of take out menus and last minute treks to the nearest pub, I see slow cookers becoming a bigger and bigger part of my life. Here are some tips to get you started.

Prepare beforehand. You can get a lot of the preparation out of the way the night before, which leaves you with minimal work first thing in the morning. Make sure you cover the vegetables and store them in the refrigerator.

Don’t look! There are all sorts of super secret tasty meal-makin’ things going on in that slow cooker over the course of several hours. If you can’t resist the temptation to take a peek at what’s going on, you’ll be risking a disappointing meal all around.

Size matters. With only two of us in our home, an oversize slow cooker would only be appropriate if we were frequently preparing for leftovers. The 2 1/2 Quart Rival Slow Cooker is just fine for me and my hubby. But I do have my eye on jumbo size slow cookers as well…just so the option is there!

What do you think? Are slow cookers making a comeback?

Image: Sporkist

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Save Time and Enjoy With A Slow Cooker