Unique Uses for Ramen Noodles
It's Not Just a College Staple Any More
The answer is simple. They are inexpensive. I can get a twelve pack of Ramen noodles for $1.49 at my local Aldi grocery store. But, what I do with the Ramen noodles is anything but ordinary.
My son calls Ramen noodles his spaghetti. He loves when mommy pulls out a bag of those to feed him and his sister. And, I'll admit, on occasion I just fix them according to package instructions down to the sodium filled flavor pack that comes with the noodles. Lately, I've been doing some different things with Ramen noodles.
Everyone who had kids knows how difficult it can be to get them to eat their veggies. Sometimes it is difficult to get them to eat anything at all.
My creativity with Ramen noodles actually started with a pot of chili. I had made a huge pot of homemade chili for my family. My four year old son loved the chili, but my two year old daughter was less than thrilled. After watching her reject her chili for dinner, I knew I had to do something with the leftovers. So, the next day, at lunch, I decided to make a packet of Ramen noodles-discarding the flavor packet that came with it. I took a bowl of the chili and mixed it into the cooked Ramen noodles. My kids loved it! They both ate every bite.
That incident has sparked a wave of creativity for me. One day last week, I made Ramen noodles (again without using the flavor packet) and added a can of mixed vegetables and a can of fat-free cream of chicken soup. This turned out to be a creamy chicken noodle soup that my kids devoured.
And just last night, I put the Ramen noodles to work again. This time it was to get my kids to eat the beef stew they had rejected at lunch. I just mixed some of the left over beef stew with the noodles and instantly had a hit on my hands.
Maybe you think my tactics are strange, but my kids are eating all of their veggies and that makes this mom happy. I can take some leftovers and the most inexpensive noodles on the market and make something my kids will eat. If you try this in your home, remember to discard that flavor packet, It's not really necessary when you are mixing in other flavors and it is high in sodium.
Published by Wendy King
After working 10yrs in Pediatrics as a medical assistant, I became a stay at home mom in 2002. I have 3 beautiful children. Two of my children have autism. View profile
Top Ramen Noodles Inventor Dead at 96Everyone remembers Ramen Noodles. I have a special place in my grocery cart for them. No matter how wealthy I am, I will always eat Ramen Noodles. They are easy to make, and goo...- Cindy's Guide to Beef StewThis version of stew was served to me by my husband. I altered the seasonings and changed some of the ingredients to make a more tender and more flavorful meal.
Beef Stew Recipe from ScratchThis is a great recipe that will make anyone pass on buying canned stew for good.- Fast and Easy Beef Stew This stew is great for those cold rainy nights when all you want is cuddle up in front of a fireplace.
Anne Hart's Rural, All American Thanksgiving Beef StewYou can use beef or any other meat or even meat substitutes and make the same type of holiday stew or casserole with the same side ingredients to flavor the meal.
- A Guide to Cooking and Eating Ramen Noodles
- A Unique Beef Stew Recipe: With Bacon, Beef, Beer, and More
- Alternative Uses for Ramen Noodles Seasoning Packets
- Best-Ever Beef Stew Recipe
- Beef Stew
- Spicy Beef Stew Cooked with Vegetables
- Faux Beef Stew
- I can get a twelve pack of Ramen noodles for $1.49 at my local Aldi grocery store.
- Everyone who had kids knows how difficult it can be to get them to eat their veggies.
- I can take some leftovers and the most inexpensive noodles on the market and make something my kids will eat.
14 Comments
Post a CommentI'm american but grew up in Malaysia, where eating dry, uncooked ramen was a common childhood snack. One brand, Mamee, still markets their dry ramen as a good snack! Not the healthiest, but couldn't be any worse than potato chips...
right?
Those are some great ideas! I know my kids are difficult to get them to eat the leftovers of some things. This gives them new life! I too hit the star meter! These are great for moms on a bufdget and now I will know what to do tomorrow night when no one wants left over pork roast!
I tell you what. I understand everything you said in here especially the part about the price. My mom had 5 boys all two years apart and we was some po' people, I liked them from the start. Now I have 4 kids of my own and I had a brain tumor that required surgery, now I have a severe siezure disorder and cannot work. Being the big money bread winner before I got sick and now the wife is carrying the load. We buy a lot of ramen noodles here. But my kids love them just like I did. I hit your star-o-meter too I love the article.
Rodney
hahah!!! I'm fine with the fact that I amde it through college without having to eat ramen. Nice article.
Great article! I've been known to make Ramen into chicken noodle soup or in a stir fry when funds are low. LOL
My daughter loves to eat the ramen noodles raw. When my husband is sick I make him just the seasoning packet from the creamy chicken flavor in water with no noodles. Sometimes I like to make the noodles, drain them and add the seasoning packet with a little sauteed mushrooms. you have a bowl of noodles instead of soup.
Very ingenious recipes and great article.
My kids love these things (and not much of anything else except hot dogs and cheese pizza). I'm going to give your tactics a try. Thanks for the "mom secret"!
Great article! I love adding mixed veggies (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower) to the Ramen noodles. It adds something healthy--plus I don't use the whole packet of flavor. Good timing to this too, since I did see quite a bit of discussion on this in the forums. ;)
Great ideas! I've never done anything with them except eat them as directed on the package. Barefoot: My daughter and husband eat a few of them raw every time we have them. But they always snack on raw pasta ick. I always keep a pack in the house for emergencies if I didn't get a chance to go shopping, anyone in the house is sick or I find myself broke that day and need a cheap lunch or dinner. I'll have to try to get creative with them my kids won't eat veggies either!