The Ramen Ninja

Quick Tip: Keep Your Bananas Fresh!

2012-12-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: choosemyplate.gov

Most people love fresh fruit. However, most people can't have fresh fruit as often as they would like because of their busy schedule limiting their shopping trips. Also, most fruits don't keep as long as we all would like. Especially the banana.

How many times has this happened to you?

You go to the market and pick out the greenest bunch of bananas you can find because you know that the really yellow ones will be brown well before you get the chance to eat every one in the bunch.

Sound familiar?

Even if it doesn't, you can at least agree that bananas do not fare well when it comes to the staying-fresh-for-long-periods-of-time department.

So what can you do about this? Do we just stick them in the fridge?

Nope - actually, sticking them in the fridge will turn them brown even quicker in most cases. Also, if you live in a dorm, you might not have your own fridge.

Your best bet is simple - don't keep your bananas in the bunch. Keep them separate. They will stay fresh for much longer.

Rather than keeping the bananas together as a bunch, separate them by pulling apart the bunch until each banana is now a single unit like this:

Photo Credit: WallpaperPimper.com

If you want to up the ante - wrap the stems tightly in plastic wrap.

The reason that bananas go bad so fast is that, as they ripen, they undergo a chemical process that releases tons of ethylene gas. This particular gas is released from most fruits as they ripen, but bananas release loads more than other fruits. In fact, bananas release so much ethylene gas that they will cause other fruits to go bad faster if they are kept in close proximity of one another.

So, when you buy your bananas, keep them separate, wrap the stems, keep them away from other fruits, don't put them in the fridge, and keep them in a well ventilated area.

Quick Tip: Stop the Excess Foam!

2012-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Lacey Wilcox

There isn't much else to say here, right? You see the picture above. Don't you just hate it when that happens? Whether you are making rice, pasta or any other dish that requires you to boil something, you can very easily end up with a big mess from the pot boiling over like crazy. You might deal with this fairly often - especially if you are multitasking in the kitchen. Just the sight of this image may have you boiling over.

So let me show you another image to help you simmer down...

Photo Credit: PlentyPerfect.com

Ahhh....

That's better right? Do you see what's happening here? That's right, you've got a pot that looks dangerously close to boiling over, yet there is something preventing that large pile of foam from getting any larger and spilling over.

The very simple secret to keeping your water from boiling over is to place a wooden spoon right over the top of the pot. So is this some kind of ancient ninja secret passed down through the ages by wizened master chefs?

Not exactly.

There are actually a number of scientific reasons why the spoon keeps the foam in check - some having to do with thermodynamics. I'm not going to pretend to be any sort of physicist here, for I am merely a humble student of gastronomy. However, a simple Google search will yield the nitty gritty details, if you are so inclined.

Suffice it to say that the reasons are fairly simple - the temperature of the spoon is less than the temperature of the steam that fills the bubbles of the troublesome foam. Also, the mere presence of the spoon breaks the bubbles and causes the usual mountain of foam to collapse inward, instead of growing ever larger at the center and expanding outward until the inevitable over-spillage occurs.

There are most assuredly other physics-related reasons why this little trick works - and my above description is most likely a gross oversimplification. However, the fact of the matter is this trick works and it makes life in the kitchen so much simpler.

Easy Meal: Tomato-Cheese Toastie

2012-12-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to share a very simple recipe with you. It is a delicious, light vegetarian meal that even non-vegetarians are sure to love, mainly because it features one of everyone's favorite foods on the planet - cheese.

I like to call this a Tomato-Cheese Toastie.

Imagine - you are sitting at home and you are light on ingredients, but want a delicious meal. This is where The Ramen Ninja steps in.

I'm going to show you how to make a meal using two very basic ingredients: tomatoes and cheese.

Photo Credit: Reimanpub.com

What You'll Need:

1 preheated oven set to broil 500F degrees.
1 oven-safe pan
1 spatula
1 plate

Ingredients:
1 hamburger bun or 2 slices of sandwich bread
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
1 tomato - sliced
2 slices of Mozzarella cheese (or whatever kind you have on hand)
mayonnaise
salt
pepper
garlic powder
paprika
Italian seasoning

Step 1:
Preheat the oven and lay out your bun open-faced on the pan.

Step 2:
Toast the bun in the oven for about 1-2 minutes on each side.

Step 3:
Spread the mayo onto the bun.

Step 4:
Place one slice of tomato on both halves of the bun.

Step 5:
Put one half teaspoon of balsamic vinegar on top of each tomato slice.

Step 6:
Sprinkle a small amount of each of the above seasonings: salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning. A little goes a long way here because you are using so many different seasonings - so just a pinch of each will do.

Step 7:
Put one half teaspoon of olive oil on each slice of tomato.

Step 8:
Finally, lay one slice of cheese on top of each slice of tomato and put your sandwich open-faced back into the oven.

Step 9:
Allow the sandwich to toast in the oven for 3-4 minutes. It is done when the cheese starts bubbling.

Step 10:
Remove the sandwich from the oven and serve onto a plate using a spatula. Enjoy!

Quick Update

2012-12-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

So I have not really been active on the blog since summer. Has it really been May since my last post???

I'm sure my few followers may have considered me dead and gone, but the Ramen Ninja lives, yet!

However, today is officially my first day back and I will try my hand at adding some new recipes every once in awhile.

Quick Snack: Popcorn

2012-05-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks. However, I am not talking about microwave popcorn. I am talking about the popcorn you make on the stove. Compared to microwave popcorn it is cheaper and healthier. Mainly - it's cheap. One 16 oz. bag of unpopped kernels should last you practically forever.

Things you'll need:
1 large pot with a tight-fitting lid
1 large serving bowl
1 stove

Ingredients:
about 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
1-2 tbs. salt
about 1/4 cup vegetable or olive oil
2 tbs melted butter (optional)

Step 1:
Pour the popcorn kernels into the pot. You should put enough kernels in so that there is a single, even layer of kernels covering the bottom of the pot.

Step 2:
Pour in the oil. Note that the above measurement is approximate. The kernels don't need to be swimming in oil. The same rule applies for the oil as the popcorn kernels - you only need enough to cover the bottom of the pot.

Step 3:
Cover the pot and set the heat to high.

Step 4:
Once the popcorn begins to pop, reduce the heat to a low-medium setting. Once the pot has begun to fill with popped kernels, the popping will slow. Listen for it to slow down to about 3-4 seconds between pops and completely remove it from the heat.

Step 5:
Pour the popcorn into the bowl.

Step 6:
Add salt and shake the bowl so that the salt will evenly distribute throughout the popcorn. Repeat this step as necessary. If you are using butter, add it first so that the salt will stick.

That's all there is to it! This recipe makes enough popcorn for at least 4 people to share. This makes a great snack for movies, parties or any other time!

Quick Tip: Mastering Your Microwave

2012-05-14T00:37:00.002-07:00

In the coming days I will try to post some recipes for cooking with your microwave, but for now I will share some quick tips with you.

Your microwave can cook many more foods than you think. While it cannot grill or broil, it can still make your cooking easier, faster and healthier (believe it or not). If you get a little creative, you can actually tackle most things with your microwave that you would normally use other appliances for.

One popular Lifehacker article shares a number of tips for how to cook with very little effort - something the microwave is adept at doing.

However, what interested me most in the article, and what I wanted to share with all of you, is this - there is a popular misconception about microwaves being less healthy for the foods that you cook.

In the article mentioned above, the author discovered that you get more vitamins and nutrients by nuking your veggies than you do from cooking them on the stove. Just throw your vegetables into a bowl with a small amount of water, cover it and microwave it for a couple of minutes and you are ready to start eating.

Since this method is much faster and healthier than using the stove, I will probably be using my microwave much more often.

Also, seeing as how the microwave can be a major time-saver, I will try to post some more recipes that make use of your microwave so that you can save time when cooking (something I know that everyone needs more of).

Maybe this information will inspire you to get reacquainted with your microwave - I know it did for me!

Tools for the job: Rice Cooker

2012-05-13T00:13:00.000-07:00

A rice cooker is an incredibly handy tool to have in the kitchen, especially if rice is something you use a lot of. I only have limited experience with rice cookers, but from the few times I have used them, I can say that they made me reluctant to go back to cooking rice on the stove.

Also, most colleges will not allow anything inside your dorm with an exposed heating element - which means rice cookers are generally allowed.

Most of the high-end rice cookers can run upwards of $200, but I do know that there are a few that you can find for under $20.

Black & Decker makes a small, 3-cup model - the cheapest I could find.

At the risk of sounding as though I am endorsing certain products, I would recommend the Black & Decker model pictured above. No, I am not some kind of affiliate marketer. This is just the most affordable model I know of, and I write for the cooks on a budget!

Now, if you seem to think that your money does not need to be spent on something that only makes rice - hear me out! These appliances can much more than make just rice.

There are a whole host of rice cooker recipes to be found on the internet - including stews, pilafs, puddings, soups - some even come with a little rack so you can steam vegetables!

For the budget cook and college student, these little appliances are worth their weight in solid, gold ninja stars.

As I said before, I do not personally own a rice cooker (yet), but I would highly recommend them. If anyone has any rice cooker experiences/recipes/recommendations of their own that they would like to share, please comment!

Stock Your Pantry: Rice

2012-05-11T20:39:00.003-07:00

Today, I want to give you a quick tip on something to keep in your pantry at all times - rice!

Rice is like a super food - it is super healthy, super cheap, super delicious and super easy to make. The average price you can expect to pay in the store for long grain white rice is usually around $1.50 for 2 lbs - sometimes less, depending on where you go.

If you use a lot of rice, go somewhere where you can buy it wholesale and you will pay practically nothing for a whole lot of rice (although I wouldn't suggest this if you live in a dorm - you wouldn't have anywhere to store it all!)

It is not just the price you pay at the counter that makes rice the budget cook's best friend. Rice is so versatile it can be used for almost anything. I have used rice for soups, stews, side dishes, main entrees, you name it! It is also very filling, which is a huge plus if you are pinching pennies.

If you don't have large amounts of any one ingredient, you can throw them all together and fry it in a pan with some cooked rice, and it makes for a delicious and easy entree. When you are using rice, it doesn't take many ingredients at all to make a great meal or snack.

White rice is usually the best option because it has a very short cooking time - around 20 minutes. Brown rice - which is the healthier choice - actually takes between 45-50 minutes. So, if you often find yourself in a hurry, go with the white rice.

If you are willing to wait, take the healthy road and go with the brown rice. Also, if you do decide to go with brown rice, you can cook lots of it on a day when you have some extra time on your hands and store it all in the fridge once it's cooked. This is actually a great idea for any kind of rice you are using, especially if you plan to make dishes like fried rice.

Additionally, rice is a great option for college life, considering rice cookers are allowed in most dorms.

Comment and share what you use rice to make!

Quick Meal: Huevos Rancheros

2012-05-11T01:10:00.001-07:00

I remember coming home from work one night dead tired. I was so tired that I couldn't even begin to think about cooking. To make matters worse, the fridge was practically empty - a gallon of milk, eggs, and some random leftovers from a recent party, such as dip and salsa. Luckily, my girlfriend knew exactly what to do with the scant ingredients we had available at the time - she whipped up some very simple and delicious huevos rancheros.

Sometimes referred to as a salsa omelette, huevos rancheros is simply egg and salsa - at least in most cases.

Things you'll need:
1 spatula
1 frying pan
1 plate
1 bowl
1 whisk or fork

Ingredients:
2 tbs butter or cooking spray
1/4 cup milk (optional)
4 eggs
about 1/2 cup salsa

Step 1:
Crack the eggs into the bowl and add the milk. Beat with the whisk or fork until well-blended.

Step 2:
Heat the frying pan to medium heat and melt 1 tbs of butter (or grease the pan with cooking spray).

Step 3:
Add the eggs to the pan and allow them to sit and cook. Do not stir them or disturb them in any way. You want the eggs to maintain a flat, round shape. The eggs will begin to cook through and should begin to solidify within about 5 minutes. You can use the spatula to carefully lift the edge of the omelette and peek underneath to check the doneness.

Step 4:
The eggs will be ready to flip once they are no longer wet on the bottom. Some of that wetness should also be drying up on top. Once the eggs have reached this point, flip them. Add the other tbs of butter to the pan as you flip, or grease it again with the cooking spray. Continue cooking until it the eggs are cooked evenly.

Step 5:
Once the eggs are done cooking, remove them from the pan and place them on a plate. Pour the salsa into the middle of the omelette and then fold it over.

You're all done!

I have made this same recipe before, only I made my own salsa with chopped up bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and lime. However, this recipe is still delicious if you just use salsa from the jar. Also, huevos rancheros is traditionally served with black beans on the side, but this is optional, of course.

Enjoy!

Easy Meal: English Muffin Pizzas

2012-05-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Don't waste your money on those frozen mini pizzas! They aren't healthy, and they really don't taste the best.

Why not make your own pizza?

Maybe you don't have the time or ingredients to make your own pizza dough, but that doesn't have to stop you. You can just use something you may already have - English muffins!

Things you'll need:
1 knife
1 spoon
1 cutting board
1 oven (this is a great toaster oven recipe!)
1 cookie sheet (or any other oven-safe dish)

Ingredients:
2 English muffins (if you don't have English muffins, you could substitute with biscuits, buns, etc.)
4 tbs pizza or pasta sauce
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Step 1:
Heat the oven to 350F degrees.

Step 2:
Cut the muffins in half.

Step 3:
Using a spoon, put about 1 heaping tbs. of sauce onto each slice of the muffin and spread it evenly.

Step 4:
Top each muffin with your desired amount of shredded cheese.

Step 5:
Place the muffins on your oven-safe dish and put them in for around 12 minutes. You really only need to leave them in long enough for the cheese to melt and for the muffin to be thoroughly heated.

You're done! This recipe is laughably simple and you could easily add your own variations. Try topping your mini pizzas with some ham, pepperoni, olives - you name it!

Quick Tip: Improvising Kitchen Utensils

2012-05-08T21:25:00.001-07:00

Improvisation.

That is the key word that all good chefs need to know. Whether it is substituting one ingredient for another, or making your own recipe using leftovers from the fridge, you have to know how to improvise - especially when you are cooking on a budget.

Today I want to talk about the tools you are using in the kitchen.

Kitchen utensils can be expensive - especially when we are talking about high-quality ones. Compound this with the fact that most colleges won't allow you to bring most appliances and utensils on campus and you can see why improvisation is so important.

So, I will give you a couple of tips about how to substitute certain utensils with commonplace items.

Whisk/Hand Mixer - This one is incredibly simple - just use a fork. It should work for most things. For the longest time, I used a fork before I had my own electric hand mixer or whisk.

Measuring Cup - You may or may not realize this, but most standard-sized coffee cups hold the equivalent of 1 cup if they are filled just below the brim. This won't help you if you need to measure water to exactly 1/4 of a cup, but in a pinch you could always eyeball it by using the coffee cup.

Bottle Opener - This one will only work if you have a Mac, unfortunately. I recently read that you can use a Mac laptop adapter cord to open a bottle. Just take the little box off of the end of the adapter that has the two prongs on it that go into the wall and use the larger part of the adapter box to pry off the cap (the part of the adapter with the metal circle that protrudes when you remove the pronged piece).

Can Opener - With this method, you need to be extremely careful. It is quite possible to open a can with a sharp knife. Simply puncture the can at the top along the edge (where you would normally use a can opener), then turn the knife so that the blade is facing up, put the tip up the knife into the hole you created and apply downward pressure to the handle. By slowly repeating this, you can work your way around the edge of the can to get it open. But I will say this again, be extremely careful!

I will keep adding to this as I come up with more ideas.

Please comment and share some of your own improvisations!

Quick Snack: Easy Crepes

2012-05-07T18:35:00.001-07:00

Crepes are one of my favorite things to make. They are very simple, cheap, versatile and delicious - everything the tight-budget cook looks for.

You can make dessert crepes, breakfast crepes and dinner crepes, it all depends on what you want to stuff them with.

Things you'll need:
1 bowl
1 measuring cup
1 fork
1 stove
1 small-medium size frying pan
1 spatula

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pancake mix
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups water
About 2-3 tbs butter, or a can of nonstick cooking spray

Step 1:
In the bowl, combine the eggs and water and whip them together.

Step 2:
In the measuring cup, combine the flour and pancake mix.

Step 3:
Gradually add the flour/pancake mix to the eggs/water mixture in the bowl. Make sure you whip the mixture together with a fork as you add the powdered ingredients. By combining the ingredients in this manner, you avoid ending up with lumpy batter.

Step 4:
Heat the pan to medium-high heat.

Step 5:
Once all the ingredients are mixed together and free of lumps, coat the frying pan with butter or cooking spray.

Step 6:
Drizzle some of the batter into the pan with one hand, while holding the frying pan by the handle in your other hand. As you add the batter, shift the frying pan around so that the crepe batter evenly coats the bottom of the pan. You are doing this to avoid all of the batter pooling on the bottom and becoming thick like a pancake. The heat of the pan will cause the batter to stick to the sides as you move the pan around. This method produces a nice, thin crepe.

Step 7:
Using the spatula, flip the crepe over so that the other side will cook. It usually takes about 30 seconds per side. You will know when you are ready to flip the crepe the first time when the batter on top begins to dry up and the edges of the crepe that are up on the sides of the pan begin to fold in towards the center.

Step 8:
Repeat steps 6 and 7 until you use up all the batter. Make sure you add a little butter or cooking spray to the pan before you add more butter, or else the batter will stick to the pan.

That's all there is to it! Your first couple of crepes may not turn out perfectly, but don't give up. Crepes take a little practice, but they are super easy, once you get the hang of it.

Now all you need to do is add a little fruit, chocolate syrup and some whipped cream, and you have a delicious dessert/breakfast.

Comment and let us know what you decide to fill your crepes with!

Quick Snack: Popcorn Eggs

2012-05-06T14:09:00.001-07:00

Well, no, they don't really have popcorn in them. This is a way to whip up a quick snack in the microwave, and the popping sound comes from the cooking of the eggs.

Note: This picture has garnishes, which are completely optional, but you get the idea.

Things you'll need:
1 microwave-safe plate
1 microwave-safe cup
1 fork

Ingredients:
Eggs
Salt and pepper

Step 1:
Crack however many eggs you will be cooking into the cup.

Step 2:
Cover the cup with the plate and place it in the microwave.

Step 3:
Set the microwave to cook on high for about 30 seconds to 1 minute per egg. You will need to standby to check for doneness. You will start hearing a popping sound when they are close to being done. It will be somewhat loud, but don't be scared! This is supposed to happen - it's in the name, remember?

Step 4:
When the eggs are ready, remove the cup from the microwave. You will know that they are done when there isn't a lot of wetness in the eggs. Be careful when removing the cup from the microwave, it will be hot.

Step 5:
Using the fork, break up the eggs until they look like the small bits in the picture.

Step 6:
Season the eggs with the salt and pepper.

That's it! You are all done! Now, you don't really have to crumble up the eggs if you don't want to. If you prefer to keep them intact, that is perfectly fine.

This method is kind of like what's used in the EggWave - super easy!

The appeal to breaking the eggs up is that you can pour them over a salad - or you could even try making your own egg salad sandwiches. No hard-boiling required.

I have not tried using them in this way, but I will give it a shot and let you know what I come up with, or you could do it yourself and share your results!

Party Snacks: Cheeseburger dip

2012-05-05T13:46:00.001-07:00

I know that football season is several months away, but there are still tons of great events coming soon that I am sure people will be throwing parties for (can anyone say 2012 Summer Olympics?).

That's why I wanted to post this great recipe for cheeseburger dip.
Obviously, there doesn't have to be an event to make this recipe, but it sure does liven up a party.

Things you'll need:
1 crock pot (you could use a large pot on the stove as an alternative).
1 frying pan
1 strainer
1 cutting board
1 knife
1 can opener

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 10 oz. cans of Original Rotel mix
1 32 oz. box of Velveeta

Step 1:
Set the crock pot on medium heat.

Step 2:
Using the frying pan, brown the ground beef - this should take about 10 min.

Step 3:
Using the strainer, drain the meat.

Step 4:
Take the brick of Velveeta cheese out of all the packaging and set it on the cutting board. Using the knife, cut the brick into small cubes. Then, add them to the crock pot.

Step 5:
Once the cheese has melted, open the cans of Rotel and drain them.

Step 6:
Mix the ground beef and Rotel into the melted cheese.

Step 7:
Now set the temperature on the crock pot to the lowest setting - this is usually called something like 'Keep Warm' - and you are ready to serve this great dip!

Some people like their dip a little cheesier - in this case, I will use half the amount of Rotel and ground beef. If you are expecting a bigger party, you could also double the amount of cheese.

The great thing about this dip is that it is so simple, you can very easily modify it. Go wild! See what kind of spin you can put on it and share it with us!

Quick Snack: Flavored Rice

2012-05-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

I tend to get hungry between meals, and it can be a pain to cook food when you have a lot of work to do. If I stood in the kitchen and cooked every time I got hungry, I would probably be in there all day.

So, I like snacks like flavored rice because they are quick, easy and don't require you to stand over the stove while they cook.

This is also one of those recipes that really only requires a couple ingredients - bonus!

Things you'll need:

1 measuring cup
1 medium-sized pot with a tight-fitting lid
1 fork

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice
2 tsp (or 2 cubes) chicken bouillon
salt and pepper
1 tbs butter or olive oil (optional)

Step 1:
Pour 2 cups of water into the pot and add the chicken bouillon. Sometime for extra flavor, I substitute 1 cup white wine for 1 cup of water.

Step 2:
Bring the water to a rolling boil and add the rice and butter/olive oil.

Step 3:
Cover the pot with the lid and set the heat to low. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 4:
Once the rice has finished simmering, remove from heat and fluff with a fork.

Step 5:
Season the rice with salt, pepper or any other seasonings you have around. I like to sometimes add Vegeta - a mix of spices that I usually keep on hand for soups, stews, etc.

This recipe yields about 2 cups of cooked rice - not a bad amount of food for a snack or side dish. You can also add bits of cooked chicken to this and it could become a main entree - just get some canned chicken and mix it in on Step 2.

Enjoy!

Quick Tip: Dorm Co

2012-05-03T13:54:00.002-07:00

I like to give a lot of tips when it comes to things you might need and where you can find them. I stumbled across this website today called Dorm Co.

It looks pretty cool. They seem like the essential place to go for stocking your dorm. I have never used them before, but at the very least, it is a good place to go to get good ideas for the kinds of things you might need.

I particularly liked their section on their site for cooking. They had a lot of neat little appliances as well as various utensils.

I would suggest checking it out.

This is the link to their home page:
https://www.dormco.com/default.asp

As far as pricing goes, it doesn't look to bad. Like I said before, it isn't a bad place to go to get some ideas for things you might need or find cool. You could always just look on eBay or craigslist to come up with some better options for the pricier stuff.

Gourmet Dorm: Ceviche

2012-05-03T13:13:00.001-07:00

I was trying to get a little inspiration today by looking at the lists that most colleges and universities put out on banned appliances. The lists vary, but they cover most things. If you are going by the list, you are allowed to have a mini fridge and sometimes a microwave.

It didn't occur to me right away that there is a delicious meal that you can 'cook' using only the fridge - ceviche.

If you don't know, ceviche is a traditional Peruvian dish made with seafood that is sort of like sushi, minus the rice. While it is not really raw, the cooking process allows the fish to maintain the freshness that is much like sushi.

Things you'll need:

1 large bowl (as large as you can fit into your mini-fridge)
1 cutting board
1 knife
1 mini fridge
1 strainer
aluminum foil or plastic wrap

Ingredients:

These will vary, depending on your tastes, but most seafood works. I will post what I usually use.

12 oz peeled, deveined shrimp
3-4 small tilapia fillets
3 medium onions, sliced
6 limes (at least) you need these for juicing. If that's too difficult to come by, get the pure lime juice at the grocery store - usually comes in a 16 fl oz bottle.
1 bundle fresh cilantro
3-4 small tomatoes, diced
2 avocados, diced (optional)
salt and pepper
2 tsp garlic powder

Step 1:
Rinse the seafood in the strainer. If it is froze, thaw it out. If you put frozen seafood in your ceviche it will not turn out right.

Step 2:
Cut the tilapia into bite-sized chunks. Put the cut up tilapia and shrimp into the bowl.

Step 3:
Slice the onions and dice the tomatoes and avocados and put them into the bowl.

Step 4:
Finely chop the cilantro and add it to the bowl.

Step 5:
Squeeze the lime juice into the bowl. You need enough juice to cover the seafood. This is because the acidity of the lime juice "cooks" the seafood. So you want to make sure the seafood is covered so that it cooks properly.

Step 6:
Add the salt, pepper and garlic powder and mix the contents of the bowl.

Step 7:
Cover the bowl with tin foil or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. With this particular mixture, I do a shorter cooking time. Other people prefer around 4 hours. It all depends on how you like it cooked. If you are using something like raw scallops, do 4-6 hours.

Step 8:
Remove the bowl from the fridge and serve in bowls.

What I like about this dish is that you can serve it up fairly quickly, but if you are going to be gone for a while, you can leave the ceviche in the fridge and it will be ready for you when you get home. If the flavor comes out a little bland, be sure to add a little more salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Enjoy!

Easy Snack: Microwave Baked Potato

2012-05-02T10:32:00.002-07:00

In keeping with my latest trend of posting helpful dorm cooking tips, I will share a quick and easy recipe for you: baked potatoes.

Since most college dorms do have a communal kitchen equipped with an oven, it is possible to make baked potatoes the conventional way. However, this is not always the most convenient way - especially if you are living in a college dorm.

Things you'll need:

1 microwave
1 plate
1 fork
1 knife

Ingredients:

1 potato (you can use just about any kind - golden, russet, you name it)
Salt and pepper
1 tbs sour cream (optional)
1 tbs butter (optional)

Step 1:
Wash the potato.

Step 2:
Using the fork, poke holes in the potato.

Step 3:
Place the potato on a microwave-safe plate and nuke it on high for about 5 minutes.

Step 4:
Flip the potato over and put it back in the microwave for another 5 minutes.

Step 5:
Using the knife, cut the potato in half and add the salt, pepper, butter and sour cream. I like to also add cheese and bacon bits, but these are always optional.

Enjoy! This is a great study snack that is more than filling enough to keep you satiated between meals.

Networking: Facebook

2012-05-01T14:04:00.002-07:00

I don't know why I waited until now, but I finally have a Facebook page.

Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/TheRamenNinja

Please visit, like, and share! Also, feel free to comment and share how you like the page, the blog and share any recipes and tips of your own!

Thanks!

Quick Tip: Save your list!

2012-04-30T23:05:00.000-07:00

When you are cooking on a budget, it is always important to remember to not waste anything. It might have never occurred to you, but saving your shopping list can go a long way toward avoiding waste.

How does saving your shopping list save you money? Well, if you tend to be a forgetful person (like me), you may end up running into some grocery woes. Let's say you take the time to plan your meals for the week, make a shopping list and head to the store. After shopping, you load all of the groceries you got into the fridge and pantry.

However, if you are shopping for an entire household, it is inevitable that certain items are going to get pushed to the back of the fridge, left in the freezer or pantry.

By saving your shopping list and sticking it to your fridge with a magnet you can see all the items you got and you can be sure that you won't forget to use them.

Hope this helps!

Stock your pantry: College Dorm

2012-04-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have posted a fair number of recipes on this blog that call for a lot of ingredients that are pretty easy to keep around, granted you have at least a small kitchen in your apartment or house. But what about if you live in a dorm?

Most college dorms will supply your room with a small fridge and microwave - if you are lucky. Some people have to bring even these basic things with them, depending on the school.

So what are you to do?

Never fear! The following is a list of basic items that you can bring with you and easily store in your room.

Dorm Room Grocery List:

Bouillon Cubes (chicken/beef/vegetable)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Pasta
Oatmeal
Sealed packages of tuna
Olive oil/ vegetable oil
Canned soup
Bread

If you have a fridge:

Eggs
Sugar (you should keep this in the fridge/freezer to keep the bugs out of it)
Milk
Fruits
Vegetables
Cheese

I will be expanding this list as I think of more items. The key is to think of things that you can cook easily, store easily, and - most importantly - things you will actually use. As I have stressed before, plan, plan, plan, plan, plan. This list isn't a bad guide, but it is only that - a guide.

Buy things that you are going to use in the meals you have planned. Also, only get these items if you will actually eat them. Obviously this list will look a little different if you are a vegetarian or don't like tuna.

Be mindful of the space you have available as well. The average college dorm room is very small, and usually you have to share it with someone. Therefore, make sure you can store all of your grocery items in a small area of space. If you can, get a small milk crate, cardboard box, plastic bin, etc. that you can store all of your grocery items in.

Quick Snack: Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

2012-04-30T15:33:00.003-07:00

As sort of a follow-up to my post about the blender, I decided to post my favorite recipe for smoothies. The reason I like this recipe is that it is very easy to make,quick to throw together and it is also very healthy.

The recipe below is for a single-serving.

Things you'll need:

1 blender
1 measuring cup
1 spoon
1 straw
1 cup

Ingredients:

4-6 stemmed strawberries
1 banana, peeled and broken into small, bite-sized pieces
1/2 - 1 cup ice cubes, depending on how icy you like it
1/4 cup yogurt (you can use strawberry, vanilla, plain - it's up to you)
1/4 cup orange juice
1 Tbs. honey (you can substitute this with sugar if you don;t have any honey)

Step 1:
Place the fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and honey into the blender.

Step 2:
Blend until the mixture is completely smooth. You may need to stop the blender every so often and use a spoon to scrape the mixture off the sides of the blender so that all the ingredients are mixed thoroughly

Step 3:
Now, add half of the ice and blend until there are no chunks remaining. You may have to keep using the spoon to scrape everything off the inside of the blender walls as before.

Step 4:
Add the rest of the ice and blend again until there are no chunks remaining - you don't want any chunks of ice obstructing your straw!

That's it! Now you can serve your tasty snack in a cup with a straw. If you have one of those personal blenders, it should ave a travel-sized cup with a lid that you can take off the blender base to bring it with you.

This snack is a great way to get some quick, healthy calories into your system before you head off to class, work, or the gym.

Tools for the job: Blender

2012-04-28T12:07:00.004-07:00

Whether you are buried in the books or constantly dashing out the door to work, you are probably aware of the benefits of having food that you can eat on the go. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a lot of foods that are healthy and filling, while being portable.

This is where it is very handy to have a blender - but not just any blender. I was recently at the store and discovered a personal blender. With this appliance, you would be able to make a single-serving of your favorite smoothie and run out the door with it, without even having to pour it into a different container!

This is the one I saw in Target:

Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender with Travel Lid

You can probably find a huge variety of these online, and you would probably save a little more money from shopping online as well.

The one in Target was around $20, but you can buy it online for around $13.

The other handy thing about blenders is that they should be allowed in most dorms, so you can whip up a quick shake or smoothie in the comfort of your own room before class.

Tools for the job: Clothes Iron

2012-04-25T19:10:00.001-07:00

Colleges can be a little picky when it comes down to what they allow you to bring to a dorm. For example, University of South Florida has a list of off-limits appliances: Deep fryers, any appliances with an open flame or tank attached (such as miniature barbecue grills with propane tanks) and hot plates.

Even without the off-limits list, it can be a bit of a pain cooking in a shared kitchen. You might just want to slap together a quick meal in the comfort of your own room.

This is where you can get a little creative and cook some basic meals with your clothes iron.

No, this is not a joke at all. Yes, this really works.

You can make meals such as quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches with your clothes iron.

Things you'll need:

1 clothes iron
1 flat surface
1 box aluminum foil

Ingredients (Grilled Cheese):

2 tsp butter or margarine
1 slice of cheese
2 slices of bread

Ingredients (Quesadillas)

2 flour tortillas
8 oz. shredded cheese
1-2 tsp sour cream
cooked chicken or steak
1/4 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup shredded lettuce

Step 1:
Set the iron on the linen or cotton setting and make sure the steam is turned off.

Step 2:
Lay out a piece of aluminum foil large enough to accommodate a slice of bread or a tortilla shell.

Step 3:
For grilled cheese: Butter the bread and place cheese between the slices on the non-buttered side.

For quesadillas: Lay down one tortilla and place all of your ingredients on top. Lay another tortilla on top of the ingredients so that they are sandwiched between the two tortillas.

Step 4:
Lay another sheet of aluminum foil on top of the sandwich or quesadilla and fold the edges together so that the food is sealed neatly inside.

Step 5:
Use the iron against the surface of the foil for about half a minute on each side. You may need to stop and check the inside to be sure that the food is heated enough and that the cheese is melted fully. Repeat this step as needed.

That's all! This is actually a really efficient way of cooking food and the cleanup is so easy! Just make sure you keep the foil between the food and the iron. You don't want greasy grilled cheese stains showing up the next time you iron your clothes!

Home-cooked Advice: Planning Meals

2012-04-25T18:43:00.001-07:00

I want to devote this post to sharing a bit of advice that I quickly learned when I got out on my own - meal planning.

If you are in college (or if you just happen to be on a shoestring budget) it is important to know how far your funds are going to go. Let's say your weekly budget for food is $50. That's not going to get you very far if you go to the store and just grab whatever looks appetizing. You need a plan for the week.

This means that your grocery list shouldn't just look like this.

You need to have some idea of what you are going to be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner for every day of the week between shopping trips. That's what your grocery list needs to be based upon.

With this method, you will find it to be amazingly simple to stay within your budget.

In my case, I put most of my meal planning efforts into dinners. That means I will plan a couple basic meal ideas to alternate between for breakfast and lunch (for example, I might plan to have mostly soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch, so I pick out only items I need for those things).

This method leaves a lot more money and freedom so that I can get more creative with my dinner choices. I hope this helps! Comment and leave some tips of your own on how you save money on food.