As the news was starting to spread about a possible quarantine, I stocked up on pantry staples like we all did. At my store was a pile of ramen packets, and I thought- now that might come in handy. Straight out of the bag I have not found too many brands that are worthwhile- so I took this basic and jazzed it up. I made a Kimchi Ramen Bowl and added to it some seared shiitake mushrooms I had on hand, some silken tofu, and a sprinkle of wakame. For me this is a delight, since not everyone in this household enjoys spicy heat the way I do.
Sitting affects your gut health- probiotics help
I also feel that this is an excellent time for the probiotic effect of kimchi. The gut is sensitive to several things, and high on the list is exercise. Normally I pound out 8+ hours of tennis each week. I am doing my best to move and groove at home, but I certainly am doing far more sitting around than I normally do. (thank you iWatch for reminding me 🙂
Can I share a little trick with you? A lot of exercise apps are offering free deals, or discounted membership right now. There are some really good programs out there. My favorites are FitOn, The Downdog series (yoga, barre, HIIT) and Aaptiv. I also have a Peloton subscription that I had long before I owned a bike. It’s usually a little spendy, but right now they offer a free 90 trial. They offer high quality videos with everything from stretching, yoga, body weight workouts, and of course, cycling. All of these apps have short workout sessions 7-20 in addition to their longer programs. I like to think of it as the tapas of exercise.
The tapas of exercise
I am spending most of my days in workout clothes, rather than sweats. This way when I get sick of sitting around, I can jump up and do a short workout several times throughout the day. Then I treat myself to a luxurious bath towards evening, which signals my slowing down into night. With so many options to choose from I can do something different every day. And when trying something new, I am alone in my room being a spazz and no one can see (I am talking to you dance cardio on peloton).
OK, back to the Kimchi Ramen Bowl. For a long time I was a little frightened of kimchi. I like spice, but I was afraid it would blow my head off. It’s also kinda odd looking. I thought it might be too funky for me. What I have since learned is that kimchi is like Grandma’s marinara recipe. Same idea, many iterations. I got into making my own a year or so ago, and though it might sound weird to you- it’s one on my great joys. SUPER easy and I make mine on the milder side for everyone to enjoy.
Making your own kimchi- or not
It’s possible to purchase kimchi just about anywhere now. Most commercial versions are not too hot or funky, so I say give them a try. In the next week or so I will post how I make my kimchi so you can make your own. I like to think of it as part of my homesteading life now.
Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium to high heat. Add the mushroom caps and sear on both sides. About 2 minutes each side. Meanwhile prepare the ramen according to the package directions. Stir in the kimchi and let it sit. Add the tofu and wakame so they can warm up and expand. Add the shiitake caps and scallions and enjoy. If you want to take this with you you can pre cook the mushroms and add them to a container along with the kimchi and tofu. Then add the noodles and boiling water wherever you are.
Ingredients
Instructions
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