Edoropolis Emporium

Here's some odd things I'll make at home.  I was thinking of making this a section of my web page, but it doesn't really have anything to do with SPC, and I just never got around to it.

Reverse Float:
*Ice Cream (vanilla is recommended, try other flavors at your own risk)
*Your favorite soda (I prefer a cola)
Fix yourself a bowl of ice cream, then dump a little soda on it, pour it around so all the ice cream gets some on it.  The soda will freeze to the ice cream.  Eat that part, then pour some more soda on when it's gone.

Pancake Cookies:
*Pancake mix
*Milk (water will do if you're out of milk)
*Sugar
Mix up the pancake mix with some milk until it's "soupy", then add some sugar.  How much sugar is up to you.  Heat up a frying pan, add a little butter if you want, just to keep things from sticking to the pan.  Use a table spoon to dump a cookie sized portion of the mix on the pan, and cook until it's not liquid any more, flipping over as needed.  If you have a large pan you can do several at once.  Repeat until you run out of mix.

Not-chos
*Cheese
*Corn chips
Spread out some corn chip (or tortilla chips) on a cookie sheet (use a sheet of foil if you don't have a cookie sheet).  Take your cheese and use a cheese shredder to shred it right over the chips, spreading it all around until all the chips have some on them.  I don't recommend sliced cheese for this, but if it's all you have, you can tear it up and spread it around.  Bake in the oven until the cheese melts.  You can also do this in a microwave by substituting a microwave safe plate for the cookie sheet, but baked is better.

Mushroom Stir Fry
*Mushrooms (not the poison kind)
*Soy sauce
*Salt and Pepper (optional)
Chop your mushrooms up.  Use a wok or large frying pan, and dump some soy sauce in it, then add the chopped mushrooms and stir them around so they get covered in the sauce.  Cook until everything turns brown, stirring constantly, add more soy sauce if it starts getting too dry, you want to keep everything wet with the soy while you are cooking.  It only takes a couple minutes.  I like to add a lot of pepper to make it really spicy.  If you have some meat or other veggies, you can try chopping them up and adding them too.  But if you're using meat, cook the meat first, because it needs to cook longer than the mushrooms.

Crunchy Soup
*Your favorite Soup
*Won-Ton Noodles
Get a can of won-ton noodles from the "ethnic" section of your grocery store (over by the tortillas, soy sauce and matzo balls).  Cook up the soup of your choice.  Then, add the won-tons and mix them in a bit.  Eat until they start getting soggy, then add more won-tons.

Ramen Rider
*Cheap Ramen
*Meat and/or Veggies
*Egg (optional)
Ramen doesn't have to be boring food for poor college students.  There's no rule saying you can't "kick it up a notch".  Cook your ramen with the minimal amount of water, push it down into the boiling water as the bottom gets soft.  Then add pre-cooked meat, mushrooms, shrimp, onions, carrots, left over chicken or whatever you want to experiment with.  Also, if you want, crack an egg and mix it in as you cook the ramen.

I know it shouldn't, but this phrase made me LAUGH.

Yes, this is really good. I often eat ramen with egg and other ingredients. You can add cheese when the ramen is very hot, so the cheese becomes melted.

Other good thing to make is the 'ramen-rice', as you can see in the manga of Reiji Matsumoto (maybe 'Wadachi', I'm not sure of the title, I had read it a long time ago). After eating the pasta, you can add cooked Japanese rice ('gohan') to the soup. Cheap and delicious!

Wow that all really sounds good!
I've had reverse floats before and they're so much easyer to make.

Now here's something,

Instead of making traditional pancakes, take a half a box (a whole box is way to much) of a jello mix of your choice (I like the blue flavor the most) and mix it in with your pancake mix. Not only does it make your pancakes a funky color, it also makes them really tasty!

i'm gonna have to try out the Reverse Float one  =]

About the Ramen with egg one, how does that work exactly?

I want to try it but well, I'm not fond of undercooked eggs. The ones in McDonalds' breakfast things make me sick, for example...

It boils with the ramen until it's cooked.  Wait until the water is boiling, then add it.  Cook it until it looks good to you.

Maybe I'll try that one day when mom ain't looking. She'll still ask what the heck I did when she cleans the pan, though. :P

I'm bumping this post because I have a new recipe for you! :violet:

Nuked Cheese Sandwich

You'll need:
* 2 slices of bread
* butter or margarine
* 2 slices of cheese (American cheese works best, but you can try it with any cheese)

I like grilled cheese sandwiches, but to do it right, you have to grill them.  That can be about 10 minutes of work!  Then you have to wash the skillet or whatever you grilled it on.  Now I've found a way to get that grilled cheese taste in 1 minute!

First, put a light coat of butter on one side of each slice of bread, then put a slice of cheese on top.
Don't put the two halves together yet! Put them in the microwave, I set them on an old empty TV dinner box with a paper towel under the bread, this raises the sandwich halves off the bottom of the microwave a little so they cook more evenly.  Feel free to use a microwave safe plate instead.

Cook for 45 seconds or until you see the cheese is starting to melt.

Quickly (because they are hot enough to burn your fingers) slap the 2 halves together.  The heat they have built up will melt the 2 cheese slices together into a wonderful gooey, cheesy mass!  Mmm.  Allow to cool for a moment so you don't burn yourself trying to eat it.

The bread won't be toasted, but it tastes just like a grilled cheese sandwich, and because the bread is still soft, there are less crumbs.

Violet! You have saved my life!
I love grilled cheese, but sometimes I don't have the patience to pull out the grilling pan and having to wash it when I'm done.

I tried your Nuclear Cheeze Sandwich yesterday. It WORKED! It's so economicaly efficient, easy to clean and I get a yummy meal out of it. ^_^

Time to try that Upside-Down Float. (I'm going to use Root Beer!)

I'd also like to thank Vi for another great Newsletter. Keep 'em coming.  ;-)

Mmmm. I wonder how it would be if you took it out of the microwave and then put it in a toaster oven to accomplish the "grilled" part...

Might work if your toaster is wide enough to fit the complete sandwich, but you can only leave it in there for a short time or the cheese will melt into your toaster.  Try it at your own risk.

Oh, I also have a new recipe:

Macaroni and Big Cheese  :bigcheese:

Make some regular boxed (or use some of the newer microwaveable types) of macaroni and cheese.

Right before serving, while it's still real hot, toss in a slice of cheese and stir it in as it melts.  This is best done while the pot is still on the stove, or if using a microwave, as soon as it stops cooking.  Add another if you like (depending on the size of your serving).

Optional: Cook up some ground beef while you are cooking the macaroni, then stir it in too.

Here's something I like to make for myself...




BBT (Beaf/Bean/Tator) CASSEROLE


1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 C. chopped onions
2 cans French-cut green beans
2 cans Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
A bunch of frozen tator tots
1 tsp. salt
A dash of pepper


Brown the meat and onions in a skillet. Mix the cheese soup and beans in a bowl, adding the salt and pepper. Then mix in the meat and onions. Pour this into a cake pan and put a bunch of tator tots on top in rows. Put aluminum foil over the pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Then take the foil off and heat (same temp) for another half hour. Take it out and let stand for a few minutes, then enjoy.

I'm resurrecting Vi's Recipe Box to tell you about my new creation. I'm eating it right now.

It's called The Mash and Meatball Meltdown.

This morning I opened my refrigerator looking for something to eat. (no, I was opening my fridge just for the fun of it.  ::))

I found leftover mashed potatoes from last night's dinner, and a pot full of meatballs and spaghetti sauce from (yep, you guess it!) the spaghetti and meatball dinner we had the night before.

Which one of these should I eat?  :(

The left-over rations for both were not enough to sate my appetite. So, I took the mashed potatoes and put the meatballs and spaghetti sauce on top. Then I melted shredded mozzarella on-top of the whole thing.

I'm eating it right now.  It's delicious, so I feel I have to share this with you guys (and gals). 

Let's add another "M" in there and call it "Mechadon's Mash and Meatball Meltdown". I love alliteration.  :)

I think I would actually eat that, but is it something you would collect the ingredients for to make again, or did it only happen because that's all you had left?

Reminds me of the time I was out of syrup and I put some Honey-Barbecue sauce on my pancakes. Quite good, though my brother would say other wise.

It just so happened that I had leftover potatoes and meatballs from two separate meals. I was starving and it was all I had left. But, it was so good that I would make it again with fresh mashed potatoes and meatballs. I'd like to try it again with garlic in the mashed potatoes.

don't ever use ketchup instead of hot fudge on your ice cream sundae. i hear it's quite terrible, and this is coming from my cousin who puts ketchup on everything (mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, etc).

Ketchup on scrambled eggs is a great way to turn bland, mediocre scrambled eggs into scrambled awesome.  This is actually very common where I live though I've heard people say it's a crazy Pennsylvania thing, does anyone else engage in this dietary deviation?  Discuss. 

Ha! I'm exactly the same way. Oddly enough, I can't stand ketchup chips.

my cousin also eats her scrambled eggs with ketchup.
but scrambled eggs with melted mozz/cheddar and salsa.... mmmmm...  :-*

I make the most amazing omelette, that's for sure.  :D

Hmm, we've got some ice cream and soda, maybe I should try that reverse float. It sounds good.

the reversed float actually sounds good to me  :-*

You know, if you dumped all that on the chips and microwaved it, you could have made a new type of nachos.  I'd call it "Recession Nachos Supreme".

Depends on how long you do it.  Just having cheese on them too long will take the crispness out of them, but the flavor is more important than the crunch.  After all, they are just small tortillas.

But when you cook them with something else, they absorb that flavor.  Anyway, it's not an issue since they won't go soft in the time it takes cheese to melt.  You can always just add the chips afterward, but if they were already stale I'd cook them to cover that with the other flavors.

Violet's Honey Bunny

This one is really easy, requires no cooking, and only 2 ingredients!

You need:
Bolillos (A type of Mexican bread roll. If your store doesn't have them you can substitute a baguette and cut it into hand sized parts.)
Honey
A knife

Cut 2 parallel cuts down the side of the bolillo, like you are making a 2 layer sandwich.
Spread a bunch of honey all over inside the 2 slices.

It's very good with some tea or milk.

The key is using the double layer of honey. I used to do this with one cut, but the bread was covering too much of the honey's flavor. By doing a double layer, it balances it out.

Usa Hime (cocktail)
I can't believe I'm the first person to come up with this drink, I'm sure some people have tried it before me, but searching the internet I can't find an official name for it, so I will take credit and call it the the "Usa Hime" (Bunny Princess).

It's quite simple; one half sake and one half cola.

Serve cold, don't drive afterward.

Isn't sake usually supposed to be served at room temperature? Then again, I guess people would rather have cold sake than warm soda.


Or use sharp objects, operate heavy machinery, or pilot huge mechas like the Catatonic.

I always drink it cold.  I ordered sake in a fancy restaurant in Tokyo it was served chilled, so I guess they know the proper way to do it.  I know sometimes hot sake is served in the winter as a way to warm up, but generally that's not done. 
Anyway, the "Usa Hime" is supposed to be served cold.

As I understand it, it's only the cheap sake that's served hot.  The better stuff is served chilled

Quick Wrap
New recipe for those who want a quick lunch without a lot of work.
You'll need-
Pita bread (the thick tortillas used for gorditias will work fine)
Thin sliced ham
Your favorite cheese

Lay out the bread, spread some cheese over it (shred block cheese or just tear up sliced cheese).  You don't need to cover the whole thing.
Add 2 or 3 slices of ham depending on the size of your bread.
Microwave for about 45 seconds.  You don't need to melt the cheese, just warm everything up to where the cheese is starting to melt.  If you go too long the oil from the cheese and ham might soak through the bread.
Take it out and roll it up, and it's ready to eat.

Experimented with a recipe for Ginger Carrot Cake last night, and it came out pretty good. Thought I'd share it for the Bunny Princess's sake. :7

Ingredients:
1 tbs Flour
¼ cup Finely Chopped Crystalized Ginger

1 ¼ cups Flour
¾ cup Granulated Sugar
¾ cup Vegetable Oil
2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp Baking Soda
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
2 tsp Vanilla
2 Eggs
2 cups Finely Shredded Carrots (About 3 Med)

Frosting:
1 pkg (4 oz) Cream Cheese, Softened
¼ cup Butter Or Margerine, Softened
2 cups Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of square pan (8x8x2, 9x9x2") with butter. Toss 1T flour and the ginger to coat; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat all remaining carrot cake ingredients. Stir in carrots and ginger-flour mixture. Pour into pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick from center of cake comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth. Gradually stir in powdered sugar and 1t vanilla until smooth and spreadable. Spread cream cheese frosting on cake. Store covered in refrigerator.

*

The original recipe I worked from was slightly different, but I added a bit more carrots and cream cheese. You could also probably add a little chopped pecans or walnuts to this for a delicious effect, but there are nut allergies in my home so I went without. I also mixed up a little food coloring and put the extra frosting in ziplock bags, cut the tip and made little carrot designs on top for good measure. :7

Being in field training for 30 days has taught me some things about food and recipes.

MRE's are both a horrible and great thing because they taught us that no matter how hungry you are, they will nourish your hungry ass.

Our instructors taught how to make Grunt Pizza and Grunt Birthday Cake.

Pizza:

Take a Meatball and Marinara MRE, then get yourself some gross ass wheat snack bread and some cheese spread. Combine the MRE, pour it on the bread with the cheese spread, place it on the heater (not in) and let loose. Enjoy.

Cake:

Get yourself some sweet ass chocolate shake, a brownie, and the chocolate (or vanilla) pudding mix and lastly some gross ass wheat snack bread yet again (ugh). Place the brownie on the wheat snack bread, make your pudding and chocolate shake mix. Spread that stuff all around the brownie and wheat snack bread. If you for a stick or something, you can make a candle and wish your Marine a happy birthday in true field style!

Oorah?

~Burke

Awesome recipes guys (and girls), I'll be sure to show these to my mom.
Thanks again.

The Ginger Carrot Cake does look delicious

Haha.. it actually tastes better than it looks ^^; but thanks :7