Ramen around the Christmas Tree! 5 Noodle Gifts

My family loves ramen.  

It's fun to eat, easy to make 

and there are so many ways to celebrate with it for the holidays.

This year it will be Ramen around the Christmas Tree!

O Christmas Tree, Cup O Christmas Tree Gift

This eco-friendly gift is perfect for everyone, 

especially the "Christmas Tree Huggers" on your list...

Save your Cup O' Noodles container and plant a mini evergreen inside.

What a way reduce, reuse, recycle and say, 

Peace on Earth!

Printable tags are here

Make it a Ramen Holiday

Everyone loves Chex Mix, but this version has a slight Asian flair.

It makes a unique gift that is totally addictive...

Dry ramen noodles add to the flavor and crunch
and wasabi peas give it some kick...

It is definitely a flavorful adventure!

Ramen Holiday Snack Mix

Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees

In a large bowl combine:

2 packets of Top Ramen broken into bite size pieces

3 cups Rice Chex 

3 cups Wheat Chex

1 cup peanuts (I like Planter's Red Skins)

1 cup wasabi peas

Melt 6 tablespoons butter and stir in:

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Then pour over dry ingredients and stir to coat.

Place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Allow to cool before placing in airtight containers.

Printable tag here

Give Santa's Beard some Cheer

Ramen noodles served on a Santa plate,

give him a delectable make over!

The perfect way to watch his hair Ho, Ho, Grow...

Top Ramen with Ramen 

Deck the gifts with ramen and ornaments.

The recipient will be bowled over with this ramen ornament 

and red and green packaged noodles.

The perfect present presentation.

Make a Ramen Wreath

My son would eat ramen daily if he could.

What better way to top his gifts than with a wreath of one of his favorite things?

To make:

Cook plain ramen noodles in boiling water until just soft, about 2 minutes.

Drain and let cool on paper towels.

On a parchment lined baking sheet, form a wreath shape with the ramen, packing the ramen tightly together.  It helps to form it around a small bowl in the middle, then remove the bowl before placing in a 250 degree oven for approximately 1 hour until wreath is set. 

Have yourself a Merry Ramen Christmas!

The perfect egg - Korean Home Cooking

My family definitely takes advantage of all of the ethnic cuisines 

that surround us in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We love exploring new foods and learning more about their cultures.

We rarely make Korean food at home, mainly because of a lack of knowledge so I was thrilled to be given an advanced copy of the new Korean Home Cooking cookbook.

It is a beautiful, informative book, full of wonderful recipes.

I had one thing in mind as I first thumbed through my copy however.

I want a foolproof way to make the ultimate soft boiled egg 

to top Asian noodle dishes such as udon and ramen.  

My son and I have always marveled how they are always so perfect in restaurants.

Not too runny because that would be overbearing, not too hard because that wouldn't give the dish the silky, creamy touch that we love so much.

Well... I found the holy grail!

So simple, so pure, so beautiful...

Why does it make me so happy?

This cookbook showed me so many interesting ways not only to use soft boiled eggs, but kimchi and included  techniques and ingredients I was not familiar with but am so excited to try.

It is an amazing culinary excursion without leaving your house.

I suggest a big bowl of noodles topped with an egg as you start your Korean adventure...

The Perfect Soft Boiled Egg

Bring a small pot of water to boil.  Gently drop in the eggs and boil for 7 minutes.  Remove the eggs from the pot and cover with cold water, cracking them gently against the side of the pot so that their shells break slightly.  Then get noodles ready, peel eggs and slice to top on ramen or udon.

Thank you to ABRAMS Books for sponsoring this post and for sending me an advanced copy of Korean Home Cooking.  I am party of the ABRAMS Dinner Party so there will be more wonderful recipes to come.

My 5 favorite foods from the Target Market

Target has managed to make shopping for everyday merchandise so much fun.

Toiletries, clothes, cleaning supplies and food have miraculously become a joy to behold.

Cruising up and down their grocery aisles has become one of my most anticipated activities.

There seem to be hidden treasures everywhere.

Smaller companies, some family run, some with a charitable purpose, 

but all with a mission to make delicious food in a reimagined, interesting way with great packaging.

Here are 5 of my favorites.

Hak's BBQ Sauces, especially the Smoked Maple Mustard.

Magically turns everyday chicken into a show stopper.

Tessemae's Green Goddess Dressing.

Marvelous as a marinate but in our house it has become our favorite dip for artichokes.

Oh Snap! Pickles.  Everything they make is DILL-cious 

(not only pickled cucumbers but green beans and carrots!).

I love how they are in small packages, my kids take them in their lunch 

and they are perfect for picnics, tailgates or anytime you are on the go.

Hottie Bites will kick your sandwiches, burgers and sausages up a notch or two...

Ramen is alway in our pantry.

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen, traditional Japanese-style noodles made from their specialty rice instead of wheat, in a savory white miso broth.  It is delicious, ready in minutes and it's so fun to eat green noodles!

Quinn Popcorn has reinvented microwave popcorn. Their "farm to bag" approach really comes through in the popcorn's taste.  You would never know it is microwave popcorn!  Each of their corn growers is proudly displayed on their website.

They had me at real butter & sea salt but equally as amazing 

are Vermont Maple Kettle Corn and Parmesan Rosemary.

And they are from Boulder, Colorado... my favorite college town and home to my alma mater.

Go Buffs!

linkpartypalooza

Farm Fresh Chicken Ramen - The new comfort food

I am all about comfort,

In my home, in my wardrobe and especially in my food.

There is nothing better than cozying up to a meal that makes you feel nostalgic, happy and loved.

Now more than ever, we are comforted to know where our food comes from 

and how it was raised or cultivated.
When it's fresh, local and vibrant it always makes for a festive meal...

I recently attended a beautiful lunch hosted by Foster Farms, where we discussed
the New Comfort Food Movement, and how the way we eat, and what we eat has changed.
Traditionally comfort food meant heavier meals like lasagna and fried chicken.
Now we want simple, visual, more health minded meals,
that you feel good making, eating and even admiring.
(food selfies, anyone?)

The flavors we crave have also changed.
They are now bolder, influenced by international flavors
or may be created to be paired with a craft beer or exotic wine.
Our lives have evolved and so has comfort food.

Almost everyone and every ethnic group eats chicken.  

More recipe pins on Pinterest contain the word chicken than eggs, peanut butter and beef combined.

Chicken is the key ingredient to many comfort meals.

 Foster Farm's Simply Raised Chicken, 

is antibiotic free, locally raised, fresh and natural.  

Since 1939, Foster Farms has been committed to producing only the highest-quality poultry.

I started to think about what is comforting to me, not only to eat but to cook.

I realized it is a combination of farm fresh food,  interesting flavors, 

locally grown vegetables and herbs and products I can buy at the grocery store that I can trust.

A trip to our local farmer's market is one of the highlights of my week.

Not only is everything fresh, seasonal and local
but the pride each farmer takes in their bounty always inspires me.

I love how pretty the produce is and I'm always anxious to try something new...

One of my favorite local farmers, is my teenage son! 

He has provided us with a plethora of tomatoes all summer long.  

There is nothing better than needing something for a meal and being able to go outside and pick it.

And snipping herbs from the garden always makes me smile...

I combined fresh vegetables, herbs, Simply Raised Chicken 

and ramen noodles 

for a comforting bowl of goodness.

All of the nostalgic flavors of chicken noodle soup, 

slightly modernized into a festive ramen dish...

I think every night should be new comfort food night!

Farm Fresh Chicken Ramen
Serves 4

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup sliced celery

2 cloves minced garlic

2 chopped spring onions

1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

handful of spinach leaves

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

1 tablespoon fresh oregano

48 ounces of chicken stock

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 packages of ramen noodles      

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add carrots, celery, garlic and onion.  Cook for about 5 minutes, or until veggies are fragrant and start to soften slightly.  Add stock and bring to a boil over high heat.  Then lower heat and simmer, adding chicken and noodles and cooking 5-7 minutes until noodles are cooked. Divide into 4 bowls and top with herbs, spinach and tomatoes.

For more New Comfort Food inspiration go to the Foster Farms Website here.

Thank you to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post.  All opinions and content are my own.