plain jane cooking - recipes for the novice:

instant noodles

Instant noodles seem to be a staple in most households these days, but there is so much more that can be done with them, other than just boil 'em up with a flavour sachet. They can in fact be part of a very nutritious, filling and quick meal (the emphasis being on quick and nutritious). Most of the dishes here will take 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.

I will not give full recipes here, as its all about one's own taste, its about palate not precision. But what I will do is give ideas, for what can be done with them, where I have stated amounts these are guidelines only and aimed at a single serving

Also, I find all brands are different, they require different amounts of water and have different strengths of seasoning. Give these facts, you will have to adjust to suit your own tastes. With these ideas as a base I am sure you will soon come up with your own ideas and discover a favourite. If you do, why not email me it and I will include and add your name to the dish.

Given the product, please excuse the poetic licence I take with naming the dishes, many of them were inspired by my own children.

maccas with cheese

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add ¼ cup of frozen or tinned sweetcorn to noodles
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with only enough water to leave them as dry as possible once cooked
• Remove from the heat and add either ½ cup of grated cheese or a good tablespoon or two of cheese spread
• Serve

maccas with cheese & ham

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with only enough water to leave them as dry as possible once cooked
• Remove from the heat and add either ½ cup of grated cheese or a good tablespoon or two of cheese spread
• Add shredded ham
• Serve

maccas with cheese & bacon

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add dried bacon bits (or cut and fry your own until crispy)
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with only enough water to leave them as dry as possible once cooked
• Remove from the heat and add either ½ cup of grated cheese or a good tablespoon or two of cheese spread
• Serve

chinese n cheddar

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with only enough water to leave them as dry as possible once cooke
• Remove from the heat and add either ½ cup grated cheese or a good tablespoon or two of cheese spread
• Sprinkle in some soy sauce
• Serve

chicken noodle soup

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add ¼ cup of frozen or tinned sweetcorn kernels to noodles
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with twice the amount water
• Add ½ cup shredded left over chicken and allow to simmer for 2 minutes
• Serve

chicken noodle soup - asian style

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add approx ¼ tsp of crushed garlic, ginger and slightly less of chilli to noodles
• Add some frozen or tinned sweetcorn kernels
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with twice the amount water
• Add ½ cup shredded left over chicken and allow to simmer for 2 minutes
• Serve

seafood noodle soup - asian style

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add a little crushed garlic, ginger and chilli to noodles
• Add ¼ cup of frozen mixed vegetables
• Cook noodles as per instructions but with twice the amount water
• Add some seafood of choice and simmer until cooked (as seafood needs little cooking I normally just place the cooked noodles in a bowl, top with seafood or thin slices of fish and just pour the boiling stock over the top)
• Serve topped with store bought crispy noodles and spring onions

tuna casserole

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Cook noodles as per instructions
• Place into casserole dish
• Add tinned tuna (there as so many flavoured versions now, with thai sweet chilli, basil and tomato, lemon pepper etc Just choose your favourite
• Add sliced spring onions
• Top with grated cheddar and place into a hot oven (200°C) until cheese has melted

curried noodles with beef

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add a little crushed garlic, ginger, chilli and your favourite curry paste to noodles
• Cook noodles as per instructions
• Add some shredded left over roast beef (or lamb, chicken or pork)
• Serve with naan bread and poppadums

noodles for jane

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add some frozen or fresh broccoli (cut very small)
• Cook noodles as per instructions
• Remove from heat
• Add some crumbled stilton
• Serve

mexican noodles

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add some chopped tinned tomatoes and its juices
• Add some tinned kidney beans
• Add half the amount of recommended water and some chilli
• Cook as per instructions
• Remove from heat
• Place into bowl and serve topped with sour cream and nachos

noodles with tomato and basil

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add some chopped tinned tomatoes and its juices
• Add half the amount of recommended water and some chilli
• Cook as per instructions
• Serve topped with finely shredded bay leaves

noodles provencale

• Place noodles into saucepan
• Add some chopped tinned tomatoes, its juices and garlic
• Add strips of sundried tomatoes, some olives and chopped capsicum, (also called sweet pepper and bell pepper)
• Add half the amount of recommended water and some chilli
• Cook as per instructions
• Serve topped with finely shredded bail leaves or coriander

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