Way Off Topic: Cheesy Bacon Ramen! YUM!

So the other night I was sitting here trying to figure out what to blog about when my stomach growled angrily at me for not feeding it for 2/3rds of the day. I gave in and decided to go see what was in the fridge. Now, even though we had gone shopping the day before, there wasn't really any kind of lunch-type foods I could munch on until I decided to make dinner other than ramen...but that had been done before.

Old.

Blah.

Then I saw the bacon in the fridge...and then the cheese and my mouth started watering and I just DID IT! And I thought I would share my delicious, oh-so-not healthy lunch (:

Ingredients:

Ramen

Delicious delicious bacon

Cheese

One egg

Salt/Pepper to taste

Love <3

I took a few strips of bacon and cut it up into little pieces and started to render the fat off in the skillet while I boiled salted water and cooked my ramen. By the way, if you don't have the brick style ramen and have a cup style like me, Just take a sharp knife (be careful)_and cut it open from the bottom to the top and it should pop right out.

Cook the ramen in boiling water for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes until it is all loose from its original shape. Then strain that bad baby and drop it into some icy cold water and let it chill.

When your bacon becomes nice and brown and sizzling, strain out the cold water from your noodles and then plop that ramen right down into the hot pan and bacon grease. 

Kudos to Gramma for the awesome tongs!

Let this cook for a bit until the bacon is thoroughly tossed into your noodles. At this point, you can also add some Worcestershire sauce or some soy sauce for that extra umami flavor. Or you can look at your begging dog and get all giddy by how cute they look.

Just one morsel, please!

Then you can get back to cooking and drop an egg onto the side and scramble it a bit and then toss it in. You know, for when you REALLY want to get fancy.

Mix it all up and serve!

When its all dished out you can top it with some nice cheese and let it melt a bit before digging in. 

It was damn delicious! If you try it...enjoy!

Stay strong and love on!

5 Inexpensive Gift Ideas

Having trouble deciding what to get your SO this year? Money problems? Here, let me get you your membership card! More and more of us are having this problem, so the “cheap gift” idea is nothing new, especially in long distance relationships (hey, we have to pay for shipping and insurance, you know)! What you can do, though, is get him or her something you’ll both love. Your SO will love it because it is meaningful, you’ll love it because it didn’t cost you an arm and a leg!!

1.       Think Unique. We all have the ideas of iProducts and gaming systems, but what really says you care is something he or she can show off that nobody else will have.  My advice? Browse your local flea market, second-hand store and antique store. Here at my local flea market, The Hartville Marketplace, there are tons of stores run by local people who sell one-of-a-kind pieces, often homemade. How many of your friends can say they have a handmade Native American pipe with real deer antlers and real feathers? 

Yep, I searched high and low but found this amazing piece for next to nothing.

2.       Get Personal. Nothing says I love you more than a poem straight from the heart. Your feelings are free, and paper and a frame can stay under $5. If you don’t have the know-how to create a beautiful picture of your feelings worthy of framing, you can always Google for a design creator or commission me for a measly $5. (Yeah, I had to! Fiverr.com/EthaNox)

3.       Adopt. This may be edging on pricey, but I’m including it anyways. If your SO is a planet or animal lover like me, this is a very touching and thoughtful gift. You can symbolically adopt an animal through WorldWildlife.Org for as little as $25. This is a great gift idea and is something your love can show off and proudly display in his/her home, while simultaneously working towards saving endangered animals.

4.       Get. Damn. Sexy!! We’ve all seen the tacky ribbons girls put on themselves as a “gift”…but it’s not as tacky when you get down to it! Whether you’re a woman or a man, let your present be YOU! Write your lover sexy coupons for anything he or she will enjoy and that you feel comfortable letting them cash in on.

Not into that phase of your relationship yet? Write coupons for everyday nice things. Like a foot or back rub, breakfast in bed, walk at the park, letting them choose the next movie…whatever would please them!

5.       COOK! I don’t know about you and yours, but my fiancée and I are a bunch of fatties that LOVE FOOD. What is the best, most inexpensive way to treat him or her to a nice meal or dessert without the pricey bill? Do it yourself. There are literally millions and millions of recipes online for completely unique food and treats you can make from what you probably already have in your cupboards. Completely homemade, I-spent-all-day-in-the-kitchen food is like nothing else, and might end up being a tradition of sorts. My advice? Go crazy and cover everything in chocolate…or make some of those cake pops…

Mmm I'm getting hungry already.

Whatever gift you decide to get, remember that it’s not how expensive something is that matters, it’s the thought, time and effort you put into getting them something. Do something memorable this year.

Stay strong and love on!