A quick recipe for people to try
If they so desire. ;)
And I think it's a good recipe, too, especially if you're tired of eating ramen normal style all the time. I was inspired to attempt this at home after I'd seen a former co-worker do the same thing so . . . here goes!
Your ingredients list:
One package of Ramen noodles, your choice of flavour
3-4 slices Kraft Cheese singles
salt
pepper
garlic
minced onion
leftover meat (preferably compatible to the flavour of Ramen being used)
vegetable (optional)
Cooking instructions:
Dice or shred the meat and place into a medium-sized sauce pan followed by the Ramen noodles (you can either break them up or leave them as is) and the vegetable. Add the salt, pepper, garlic, and minced onion then fill the pan with water. The amount is up to you (I add just enough water to cover the meat, vegetable and noodles).
Cook until the noodles are tender then add the seasoning packet from the Ramen package. Simmer until the noodles are the colour of the seasoning packet then add the cheese slices. Stir often.
Once the cheese has completely melted, remove from the stove top and serve. Makes 2-3 servings, depending on how hungry you are, and it's a great way to use leftovers. :)
--
There really wasn't anything quite like going home for the weekend to Jo. She didn't head for Philadelphia every weekend, just once a month due to her hectic school schedule, but she enjoyed her time with her mother and the rest of her family just the same.
Not very many people knew it, but Jo happened to be the daughter of Melissa Cronkhite, an internationally renowned science fiction and fantasy author. Her mother was also the oldest child, by default, of Ryan O'Connell and Torie Cronkhite, one of the most famous science fiction and fantasy duos in the writing industry since David and Leigh Eddings had worked together. It made Jo one of the oldest of Ryan and Torie's grandchildren, an association that made Jo one of the happiest girls she knew, though she had never told anyone about her relatives. She'd wanted people to like her for her, not because of her family, but she was still proud to be an O'Connell. To Jo, her mother and her grandparents were simply the greatest minds of science fiction and fantasy.
Her grandfather wasn't much of a writer, though, and he always joked about it when he was in a light mood. Ryan O'Connell had tried his hand at putting pen to paper and forming the words to create new places and new people. His goal had been to become a comic book artist and writer, and so he had tried to break into the business. He had failed when it came to writing. The comic book publishers had always liked his artwork, but never his written word. It wasn't until he'd met Torie Cronkhite that he realized his true calling was in illustration and selling his own artwork.
It had been a good thing for him, too, he always claimed when asked. Jo's grandfather had always been drawing and painting for as long as he could remember, and his art teachers had always praised him for his work. Someone had mentioned that he should write his own graphic novels. That had been when he'd lived in San Francisco. For some reason, he'd decided to move to Philadelphia. He'd lived there for two years, trying to break into the comic book world. Then he'd met the woman who eventually had become his partner in so many different ways. Ryan O'Connell constantly told his family he didn't know where he'd be if he hadn't met his wife.
Jo's grandmother felt the same way about her husband as well. Her grandmother had said she'd known from the very first time she'd laid eyes on Ryan Michael Evan O'Connell he was someone very special, and she'd known that the two of them would be magic together.
Torie Cronkhite had not been kidding, either. Since their fateful reunion in May of 2002 -- they'd met and chatted together at a concert in the fall of 2000 but had not kept in touch -- her grandparents had created fantastical world after fantastical world together, and they were still going strong as a team. Occasionally, they worked with others. It was what famous artists and authors did, but most of the time, her grandparents were content to work with each other. Many science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts were grateful for their combinations, too, Jo being among them.
Jo also found her grandparents to be quite inspiring. Her mother had as well. It had been because of Ryan and Torie O'Connell Jo's mom had accomplished all that she had. They had given Melissa a place to call home, and they had ensured she'd received the best education possible. According to her mom, Ryan and Torie did something they didn't have to do when they'd taken her in. She would be forever grateful to them for the love they had given her.
Ryan and Torie O'Connell were also the reason why Jo attended one of the finest universities in the United States, the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. They wanted their children and grandchildren to have the best there was, like any parent wanted for a child. Her grandparents were among the most fun people Jo knew and the most . . . normal, oddly enough. They didn't act like the internationally famous couple they were. Rather, they teased each other and chased each other around their historic Philadelphia home, and they showered their grandchildren with what seemed like a million tons of affection, especially around Christmas and birthdays. Jo had many fond memories of vacations, holiday get-togethers, and bedtime stories with her grandparents. She was always welcomed in their home at anytime, day or night, and they made sure she knew it.
This time would be no exception. When Jo arrived at the Philadelphia's Bullet Train Express Station, her grandparents were waiting for her, since her mother couldn't be there. The life of an internationally known author made demands of its own, and, because of it, Jo's mom was on a worldwide book tour, the first stop being San Francisco.
Jo didn't mind, though. She loved her grandparents just as much as she loved her mother, and Jo knew the instant she stepped off the train that they were waiting at the station to pick her up and take her to their home. She'd sent an email stating she was coming home to her mother and grandmother, which was how she knew her mom was on a book tour. It also helped Jo that both of her grandparents dressed in very distinct manners and styles. As she disembarked from the train, she saw a man with ebony hair wearing a black, leather trenchcoat, and a woman with blond hair wearing a midnight blue, velvet cloak with silver embroidery along the edge standing next to one of the buildings support pillars. They were the only ones wearing dark tones in a myriad of pastels.
Jo took a moment to observe the couple who had given her all they possibly could. They hadn't seen her leave the train as of yet. Her grandmother's attention was focused on her grandfather, and Torie was saying or doing something Jo couldn't quite identify. It was the perfect opportunity for Jo to watch them without them realizing it.
As usual, because he was in public, her grandfather exuded an aura of aloofness. He stood straight, sunglasses perched over eyes Jo knew to be an intense and captivating blue. His dark hair was kept cut just above his shoulders, the locks slightly wavy, and a few grey strands scattered throughout, though they were hardly noticeable to most people, and he kept . A navy blue t-shirt peeked out from under his trenchcoat, and he wore a pair of faded blue jeans. For some reason, he never smiled much when he was in public. If he did, the smiles were directed at the blond-haired woman hanging onto his arm, and no one else. It was his way of saying who his devotion resided in.
Her grandmother happened to be the exact opposite of the man she held onto. The older woman wore a pair of tight black pants and a white baby doll shirt, a direct constrast with the velvet cloak she wore everywhere. Torie O'Connell also had no qualms about smiling on a regular basis, or whenever she was in public. She had no problems showing the world she was committed to the man whose arm she held. Torie had a bright, almost sunny personality if compared to Ryan's, and Jo knew her grandmother loved to laugh. That's just how the older woman was.
As if to prove the point, her grandmother's laughter floated above the din of the station, and her grandfather shook his head, a smile tugging on the corners of his lips. It was one of those rare, unguarded moments between them, and Jo found herself smiling.
There were times it was hard for Jo to believe the couple she now observed were nearing their seventies. They were still quite youthful in their appearances with only a few grey and silver hairs on their heads, and only laugh lines on their faces. She didn't know how they accomplished it, either. They were growing old gracefully, and they had somehow managed to raise a happy, healthy family of their own creation. It couldn't have been easy, either. Her grandparents had demanding jobs. Children needed time and love as well. Jo didn't think she could do it, and still maintain her sanity.
Despite the constant demands for their time, her grandparents were always there for their children and grandchildren when they were needed. Even when they weren't, they still cleared their schedules for their family. Her grandparents were a wealth of strength and encouragement, and Jo had relied on them when she'd needed a friendly ear to listen.
Now was one of those times.
Her smile still in place, Jo shouldered her weekend bag and walked towards her grandparents. It was time to let them know she was home. She had some questions for them, and she wouldn't have her answers if she didn't ask.
And I think it's a good recipe, too, especially if you're tired of eating ramen normal style all the time. I was inspired to attempt this at home after I'd seen a former co-worker do the same thing so . . . here goes!
Your ingredients list:
One package of Ramen noodles, your choice of flavour
3-4 slices Kraft Cheese singles
salt
pepper
garlic
minced onion
leftover meat (preferably compatible to the flavour of Ramen being used)
vegetable (optional)
Cooking instructions:
Dice or shred the meat and place into a medium-sized sauce pan followed by the Ramen noodles (you can either break them up or leave them as is) and the vegetable. Add the salt, pepper, garlic, and minced onion then fill the pan with water. The amount is up to you (I add just enough water to cover the meat, vegetable and noodles).
Cook until the noodles are tender then add the seasoning packet from the Ramen package. Simmer until the noodles are the colour of the seasoning packet then add the cheese slices. Stir often.
Once the cheese has completely melted, remove from the stove top and serve. Makes 2-3 servings, depending on how hungry you are, and it's a great way to use leftovers. :)
--
There really wasn't anything quite like going home for the weekend to Jo. She didn't head for Philadelphia every weekend, just once a month due to her hectic school schedule, but she enjoyed her time with her mother and the rest of her family just the same.
Not very many people knew it, but Jo happened to be the daughter of Melissa Cronkhite, an internationally renowned science fiction and fantasy author. Her mother was also the oldest child, by default, of Ryan O'Connell and Torie Cronkhite, one of the most famous science fiction and fantasy duos in the writing industry since David and Leigh Eddings had worked together. It made Jo one of the oldest of Ryan and Torie's grandchildren, an association that made Jo one of the happiest girls she knew, though she had never told anyone about her relatives. She'd wanted people to like her for her, not because of her family, but she was still proud to be an O'Connell. To Jo, her mother and her grandparents were simply the greatest minds of science fiction and fantasy.
Her grandfather wasn't much of a writer, though, and he always joked about it when he was in a light mood. Ryan O'Connell had tried his hand at putting pen to paper and forming the words to create new places and new people. His goal had been to become a comic book artist and writer, and so he had tried to break into the business. He had failed when it came to writing. The comic book publishers had always liked his artwork, but never his written word. It wasn't until he'd met Torie Cronkhite that he realized his true calling was in illustration and selling his own artwork.
It had been a good thing for him, too, he always claimed when asked. Jo's grandfather had always been drawing and painting for as long as he could remember, and his art teachers had always praised him for his work. Someone had mentioned that he should write his own graphic novels. That had been when he'd lived in San Francisco. For some reason, he'd decided to move to Philadelphia. He'd lived there for two years, trying to break into the comic book world. Then he'd met the woman who eventually had become his partner in so many different ways. Ryan O'Connell constantly told his family he didn't know where he'd be if he hadn't met his wife.
Jo's grandmother felt the same way about her husband as well. Her grandmother had said she'd known from the very first time she'd laid eyes on Ryan Michael Evan O'Connell he was someone very special, and she'd known that the two of them would be magic together.
Torie Cronkhite had not been kidding, either. Since their fateful reunion in May of 2002 -- they'd met and chatted together at a concert in the fall of 2000 but had not kept in touch -- her grandparents had created fantastical world after fantastical world together, and they were still going strong as a team. Occasionally, they worked with others. It was what famous artists and authors did, but most of the time, her grandparents were content to work with each other. Many science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts were grateful for their combinations, too, Jo being among them.
Jo also found her grandparents to be quite inspiring. Her mother had as well. It had been because of Ryan and Torie O'Connell Jo's mom had accomplished all that she had. They had given Melissa a place to call home, and they had ensured she'd received the best education possible. According to her mom, Ryan and Torie did something they didn't have to do when they'd taken her in. She would be forever grateful to them for the love they had given her.
Ryan and Torie O'Connell were also the reason why Jo attended one of the finest universities in the United States, the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. They wanted their children and grandchildren to have the best there was, like any parent wanted for a child. Her grandparents were among the most fun people Jo knew and the most . . . normal, oddly enough. They didn't act like the internationally famous couple they were. Rather, they teased each other and chased each other around their historic Philadelphia home, and they showered their grandchildren with what seemed like a million tons of affection, especially around Christmas and birthdays. Jo had many fond memories of vacations, holiday get-togethers, and bedtime stories with her grandparents. She was always welcomed in their home at anytime, day or night, and they made sure she knew it.
This time would be no exception. When Jo arrived at the Philadelphia's Bullet Train Express Station, her grandparents were waiting for her, since her mother couldn't be there. The life of an internationally known author made demands of its own, and, because of it, Jo's mom was on a worldwide book tour, the first stop being San Francisco.
Jo didn't mind, though. She loved her grandparents just as much as she loved her mother, and Jo knew the instant she stepped off the train that they were waiting at the station to pick her up and take her to their home. She'd sent an email stating she was coming home to her mother and grandmother, which was how she knew her mom was on a book tour. It also helped Jo that both of her grandparents dressed in very distinct manners and styles. As she disembarked from the train, she saw a man with ebony hair wearing a black, leather trenchcoat, and a woman with blond hair wearing a midnight blue, velvet cloak with silver embroidery along the edge standing next to one of the buildings support pillars. They were the only ones wearing dark tones in a myriad of pastels.
Jo took a moment to observe the couple who had given her all they possibly could. They hadn't seen her leave the train as of yet. Her grandmother's attention was focused on her grandfather, and Torie was saying or doing something Jo couldn't quite identify. It was the perfect opportunity for Jo to watch them without them realizing it.
As usual, because he was in public, her grandfather exuded an aura of aloofness. He stood straight, sunglasses perched over eyes Jo knew to be an intense and captivating blue. His dark hair was kept cut just above his shoulders, the locks slightly wavy, and a few grey strands scattered throughout, though they were hardly noticeable to most people, and he kept . A navy blue t-shirt peeked out from under his trenchcoat, and he wore a pair of faded blue jeans. For some reason, he never smiled much when he was in public. If he did, the smiles were directed at the blond-haired woman hanging onto his arm, and no one else. It was his way of saying who his devotion resided in.
Her grandmother happened to be the exact opposite of the man she held onto. The older woman wore a pair of tight black pants and a white baby doll shirt, a direct constrast with the velvet cloak she wore everywhere. Torie O'Connell also had no qualms about smiling on a regular basis, or whenever she was in public. She had no problems showing the world she was committed to the man whose arm she held. Torie had a bright, almost sunny personality if compared to Ryan's, and Jo knew her grandmother loved to laugh. That's just how the older woman was.
As if to prove the point, her grandmother's laughter floated above the din of the station, and her grandfather shook his head, a smile tugging on the corners of his lips. It was one of those rare, unguarded moments between them, and Jo found herself smiling.
There were times it was hard for Jo to believe the couple she now observed were nearing their seventies. They were still quite youthful in their appearances with only a few grey and silver hairs on their heads, and only laugh lines on their faces. She didn't know how they accomplished it, either. They were growing old gracefully, and they had somehow managed to raise a happy, healthy family of their own creation. It couldn't have been easy, either. Her grandparents had demanding jobs. Children needed time and love as well. Jo didn't think she could do it, and still maintain her sanity.
Despite the constant demands for their time, her grandparents were always there for their children and grandchildren when they were needed. Even when they weren't, they still cleared their schedules for their family. Her grandparents were a wealth of strength and encouragement, and Jo had relied on them when she'd needed a friendly ear to listen.
Now was one of those times.
Her smile still in place, Jo shouldered her weekend bag and walked towards her grandparents. It was time to let them know she was home. She had some questions for them, and she wouldn't have her answers if she didn't ask.