Campus Press

Issue date: 2/12/07 Section: News

Staff Writer Cassie Hewlings demonstrates four-star meals featuring Top Ramen.

It's unavoidable, inescapable, and you know it's coming: at some point in your collegiate career, you will have to survive off of nothing but Top Ramen.

Top Ramen, the freeze-dried noodle treat, is a staple of any cash-strapped student's pantry. And why shouldn't it be? Ramen is cheap (10 for $10 at most grocery stores) and easy (boil, season, eat, repeat). However, too much of a good, or at least sufficiently filling, thing is bad, and sometimes even Ramen needs sprucing up.

Below you will find three recipes for all occasions that will give Ramen a much-needed kick. Don't be scared -- even if you aren't Rachael Ray, these recipes are very easy.

Stir-fry Ramen

Ingredients:

Soy sauce
Ramen (any flavor)
Eggs
Choice of meat (ham, turkey, etc.)
Vegetables

Place your desired amount of your choice of meat and/or vegetables in a skillet over low/medium heat with a small amount of olive oil in the bottom for cooking.

Get the Ramen noodles going according to the package instructions.

Keep stirring the meat and vegetables in the pan, and just before they are fully cooked, drain the oil and add an egg to the pan.

Scramble the egg in with the rest of contents.

After the noodles are done, add the seasoning packet and drain almost all of the water.

Add the noodles to the eggs and, over low heat, cook together for a few more minutes.

Finally, season the noodles with soy sauce and serve.


Ramen Alfredo

Ingredients:

Ramen (original flavor)
Milk
Butter
Garlic powder
Oregano

Cook the Ramen according to the package instructions. After seasoning the noodles, drain the water, putting aside 1/4 of the broth.

To the saved broth, add 1/2 cup of milk and a tablespoon of butter.

Cover the drained noodles in the mixture and heat in a microwave until creamy (about three to five minutes).

Season the Ramen with garlic powder, oregano and salt to taste.

Dessert Ramen Salad

Ingredients:

Ramen (no season packet)
Choice of berries
Choice of fruit
Sugar

Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions, but do not season. Drain the noodles completely and set aside.

Boil equal parts water and sugar (one cup water to one cup sugar should be enough) until the sugar is dissolved. This will create a simple sugar liquid.

Puree (this will require a blender) your choice of berries. Make sure you puree enough for a good amount of juice.

Now, in a separate bowl, add the simple sugar mixture to the berry juice puree to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Chop up the fruit and add to the noodles.

Finally, cover the noodles and fruit with the berry juice and serve.

A suggestion to start with would be to try a raspberry puree over Mandarin oranges and apples.

These recipes should be a great starting point for developing those culinary skills, and your prowess with Top Ramen is sure to impress your friends. Now that you know a thing or two about cooking and improvisation, experiment a little and see what kinds of great or disastrous Ramen concoctions you can dream up.

Want to do something, but don't have a clue how to do it yourself? Send your ideas to staff writer Cassie Hewlings at cassie.hewlings@thecampuspress.com.

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