Get frugal with Ramen Noodles

I just love to get in line at the grocery store behind someone buying a weeks worth of meat. I watch them shell out $200 or more - then I got through with my cart piled high with fruits and veggies, pasta and beans and rice and shell out half as much, if that.

Many a month in the last few terribly tight years for myself and my husband I have been standing in the grocery store with $20 knowing I had to feed us both for a week. Not fun. But it can be done.

One of my "secret weapons" is Ramen noodle soup. You can buy it anywhere from 6 packages for a dollar, to 10 or 12 for a dollar if you catch a good sale. Two packages can make a meal if you toss a few other things in.

For something really quick and easy, just add vegetables to the water before you boil and add the noodles. Frozen veggies, canned veggies (drained), or even fresh chopped veggies can make two packages of Ramen into a decent meal for two for under $1.00.

Another easy way to stretch Ramen into a meal is to have a couple of pieces of bread and butter with the soup made normally, or a sandwich, or maybe they'll have some day old rolls that will be fine soaked in the soup juices.

I make a delicious cold noodle salad with Ramen noodles. Add a spoon of oil to the water before you boil so they won't stick. Drain the noodles and set them aside for a moment. Don't overcook for this! Take some big fresh lettuce leaves (Romaine is best) and line a big bowl. Chop up some more of the lettuce. Add noodles, lettuce, and about a handful of mung bean sprouts. I've also used sunflower sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, or no sprouts at all. In a small bowl whisk 3 tablespoons Sesame Oil (the only expensive ingredient), 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce (I just Braggs with the aminos), and 1 tablespoon crushed garlic (go ahead, buy the stuff in the jar). Pour over the salad, toss, put in the refrigerator until it's cold.

I've also been known to stir-fry vegetables and put them over cooked Ramen noodles. You can use Ramen noodles in place of most noodles called for in Asian cooking recipes. Get creative!

I like them drained, with a tablespoon of butter stirred into them when they are hot so it melts and the spice packet - sort of buttered noodles instead of soup.

You can also buy the powdered miso soup, some of which has wasabi and other ingredients, and add that to the water before you boil the noodles for a bit of difference.

Do be sure you look at the ingredients - some of the "Oriental" flavored spice packets contain chicken or pork broth.

You can't LIVE on Ramen, of course, but one or two meals for under a $1.00 sure can make the budget go further!

Good eating!