crockpot pork ramen soup

The boyos around here like their noodles.  And I say the boyos because it is a strange ever changing number.  Sometimes it is just two.  Sometimes it is five.  It may have been more.  I find it is how many boys are in the workshop when the need for food happens.  An ever changing number.

I came across a recipe for pork ramen soup and have been thinking that it would a lovely thing to make for the boyos.  And since it was a crock pot recipe, something easy for dinner.

The first thing the recipe called for was broth and my freezer was bare of any broth but bean.  I got out my new to me cast iron broth/porridge pot.  It held about two and half quarts of mushroom broth.  So good!

The ramen turned out very well.  The chili sauce I used had a bit of fire in it so the ramen bit back.  If that is what yours is like, you may wish to cut it back.  This is really easy and very tasty.  But I have many people who like noodles and spice.  Everyone was happy for a dinner and then the boyos had lunch the next day.  Happy bellys.

pork ramen soup

10 cups mushroom broth (with mushrooms in)

2 1/2 pound pork shoulder, boneless

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup gluten free low sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 tablespoon New Mexican chili sauce or whatever is your favorite

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 cup brown sugar

8 to 16 ounces rice ramen noodles

Brown the pork shoulder in the oil in a skillet.  There needs to be color on all sides. 

In the crock pot, put four cups of broth.  Add all the other ingredients except the pork shoulder and the noodles.  Stir well.  Add the pork shoulder.  Add enough extra broth to cover the pork.  I had about two cups leftover.  Turn on low and cook for six to eight hours.

After the many hours, remove the pork and shred it.  Add the rest of the broth if you wish.  Add the ramen noodles to the broth.  Stir until soft.  Add the pork back in.  Stir and serve.

This is a picture of my bowl.  I got it when it was have eaten.  That was how it was all. 

Slurp!

smoked chocolate chip sables

Our friend Miss A thought it would be a great idea to take Small Mister ice skating outside a few weeks ago.  It was the day we all got the crud.  I am still fighting the crud in terms of energy.  It seems to be very slow coming back.  Miss A picked up a smoked chocolate chip cookie from the artisan butcher shop that also has a deli around the corner.  We find that the shop just misses the mark most of the time with any of their prepared items.  Miss A felt they had just missed the mark with the cookie and felt like I could do a better job.

I had a request. 

So I gave it a try.  The response was:  Cookie.  Is.  AWESOME.

smoked chocolate chip sables

1 cup butter (2 sticks, the highest fat content you can find makes a better cookie, like Plugra but works even without that)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon fine alderwood smoked salt

2 large egg yolks

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup chocolate chips

granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.  Mix in the salt and egg yolks.  Mix in the flour.  Mix in the chocolate chips.

Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats.  Take a teaspoon of dough and roll it into a ball.  Place on the cookie sheet.  Mash down with a glass that has a bit of sugar on the bottom.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.

The cookies are the ones on the right.  Remember, Miss A says they are:  AWESOME.  The smoke is subtle and I found it could change from each cookie.

There is a new cookie request:  spicy chocolate chip.  Is is all Miss A.

because it has been an interesting evening

It has been an interesting evening.  Small Mister has been bouncing off the walls and has made doing anything with concentration interesting.  I was thinking about writing down a new recipe but I cannot concentrate! 

It is the first day with the majority of people back to work.  They are stressed due to the price of oil going down (means layoffs) and just whatever were their holidays.  I know some of the people I work with spent much too much money.  They do not close their doors when they talk on the phone.  It all leads to stress which makes me tired.

One of the things I do when I make flannel gifts is to buy enough fabric to make pillowcases.  I bought a new pillow this year for my feet.  I find when my feet and knees are raised, the arthritis in my hips seems to be less painful in the morning.  I can be very stiff but less pain.  I will take it.

So I have a new pillow and pillow case.  I find it gets stolen by boyos and kids.  When I can use it, I do find that I move better during the day.  Which is very cool.

something new this year

I have been making woven tees to go into presents this year.  This one is flannel.  I am working on a linen one and I am thinking about working on a cotton one.   The tee's pattern name is Scout.  It is easy easy but does that mean I leave the pattern alone?  Of course not.  Patterns are like recipes.  A go by that I just have to tweak.  If I say I followed a recipe I get asked how much is different and always get teased about how much I have changed.  Patterns are that way too.

I am liking the look of this tee.  I am thinking that cotton one will be for me.  White, which is wholly impractical in my life.  I will probably stain it within hours.  Three quarter sleeves.  Again, tweak!

Crud is still slowing me down.  The walk yesterday may not have been the wisest thing but it made me very happy!

Happy New Year!

We had a very low key night last night.  Movies.  Wine.

Today, I went for a walk on a winter beach.  It was drizzly and blowing a bit and extremely quiet.

My main companions were the birds.  They were just fun to watch.

I took this picture to prove that I actually sometimes wear pants.  I think my waterproof pants are actually on the mountain but these worked well.  And they fit much better than I remember.  I was not wearing how many layers of figure skating wear underneath!

I really went down to the beach to breathe the air and watch the waves.  There were waves!  I will not repeat what came out of my mouth when I saw them but it was a good thing I had not brought a board and wet suit.  I would have been in the water and I really do not think I need that right now.  The crud is hanging on and going in the water would probably exasperate the it. 

So I walked.  There was a thermos of tea, a cheese sandwich made with bara brith, clementines, and cookies waiting for me when I got back to my truck.  It was a nice dinner. 

The walk and time on the beach, even with the rain, just made me happy.