Everybody Loves Ramen

What else is there to say? It’s so true, right? EVERYBODY loves ramen (and don’t say you don’t, because I know you do)! Something about it always makes my mouth water, no matter how not hungry I am. Maybe it’s because it is so quick and easy to make. Maybe it is because it is just so darn yummy and satisfying. Maybe it’s because it is so versatile – you can add just about anything, and it will still taste good!

Ramen really is like the Asian version of American fast food. It is quick-to-make, delicious, and unhealthy (ramen is super high in sodium and contains MSG)! It’s available in practically all grocery stores, and since it is so inexpensive, many college students depend on it to survive! Ok maybe not, but you get the picture. Ramen is good.

Here’s a short lesson on ramen! Ramen (aka instant noodles) is actually a packaged product named after a real Japanese dish called ramen. In Japan, ramen is an actual noodle soup dish (made from real noodles, not instant ones), served in a savory meat broth and topped with slices of meat (like pork), seaweed, and other good stuff (just look at the picture on your instant noodles package). If you go to Tokyo, don’t be surprised to find ramen restaurants as well! But here in the United States, we refer to instant noodles as ramen, even though they are different.

How I like to make ramen:

The ingredients I use are: 1 egg, 1 package of instant noodle (spicy flavored), 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of chicken broth powder, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and a sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds.

Directions:

1. I first bring 2 cups of water to a boil on the stove.
   
2. Still on medium high heat, I add the noodles, chicken broth powder, soy sauce, and a sprinkle of the spicy chili powder (that came in the packaged ramen).
   
3. Once the noodles are cooked, I take them out and put them in a serving bowl – keeping the soup portion in the hot pan on the stovetop (in other words, don’t take out the soup!).
   
4. Next, I crack the egg into the hot soup broth (see where I’m going with this?) and cover it on medium low heat for 3-5 min until the yolk is a little firm.
   
5. Lastly I pour the soup and egg on top of the noodles in the bowl.
   
6. And then I dig in!
   
   

This is how I made the wondeful bowl of ramen pictured at the top of this post! Doesn't it look yummy?

Enjoy!

Shrimp Crackers - They Are Addicting!

These are probably one of my all-time favorite Asian snacks. No wait. Shrimp crackers are definitely one of my favorite snacks ever. Why? If you haven't experienced eating one already, then let me recap.

It's like biting into a light, crunchy, salty, shrimp tasting potato chip (but in the shape of a french fry)! Simple as that.

Sure, it may be unhealthy, but why then do we always gravitate towards chips and other junk foods? Because, they sure are mighty tasty!

They are also great snacks on-the-go as well! They really hold up their taste weeks after you first open the bag (I don't know if that's entirely a good thing though).

My friends have told me to stay away from these shrimp crackers. "MSG!" they all say, "Oh no! You are going to die!"

But how can someone stay away from something so...tasty?

So, I simply forget my friends' advice, stick my hand back into the bag, and sulk in the injustice of it all. I just think, Hey I could be eating worse. At least they are not french fries, right?

The Power of Green Tea

Who loves green tea? I sure do! We’ve all drank this before (or at least heard of this) right? It really is the quintessence of Asian tea. Doesn’t the thought of it just give you that Asian vibe? Well, whether it does or not, this popular tea also has powers of its own. Did you know that green tea has many PROVEN health benefits? The Chinese have been using green tea in their medicine for well over 4,000 years! Here are some reasons why you should drinking green tea as well:

Green Tea Helps You:

- Lower cholesterol
- Reduce the risk of cancer
- Treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Strengthen immune function
- Treat infection
- Prevent tooth decay
- Prevent heart attack and stroke
- On your diet! (It lowers the negative effects of a fatty diet)

It is no wonder why the rate of heart disease in Japanese men is quite low despite the fact that roughly 75% of them or smokers. Wow! That’s all I can say.

“But what makes green tea so…powerful?” you may ask. Well, green tea is filled with the anti-oxidant epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG. Anti-oxidants, as you probably know, are really good for you. (That’s why we eat fruits!) EGCG is no exception. EGCG is the reason behind why green tea can reduce the risk of cancer and other cardiovascular disease.

As you can see, green tea really is good for you! So don’t feel guilty when you’re sitting in an Asian restaurant sipping tea. Even with its caffeine content, green tea can lengthen your life! Now, I won’t feel as guilty when I spoon down a whole carton of green tea ice cream!