Living in Texas has only positives. One is that the holiday season always see pork shoulders on sale less than a kongbuck a pound, $0.99 for today’s. The things you can do with a whole shoulder is great, pulled pork, roast etc. However, being just one in my household, I break them down for smaller meals.
Roast Pork
Always tastier than tenderloin as the shoulder has a bit more fat. You can also crust up the skin for a texture change. The best part you can meal prep some of the roast into the freezer.
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Pork stock.
Ready Insta pot
Once broken down the pork shank bone makes for a great pork stock. Add some aromatics and some root vegetables and there is a great base for other dishes.
Pork Miso Ramen
Sometimes Instant Ramen will not do. Since I had Stock I made some Ramen Noodles and then added the pork stock and the “Gate” on top and presto.
I planned to go out and try a new “hip” ramen spot with a friend to remember Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Well us old guys could not bother waiting an hour for a bowl, so we ended up across the way at Tofu Village for Korean which was delicious.
I still had that odd craving for some ramen today but did not want to leave the house. I waited an hour and a half but got some ramen, and I did not have to leave the house.
Step one make Ramen Noodles and while they rest make the dashi as below.
Squid and shiitake mushroom Dashi with Miso.
about 3 cups of cool water.
4 inch piece of Kombu
2 dried squids
5-6 dried shiitake mushrooms
Awase Miso
Squid and shiitake mushroom dashi with miso
Put the Kombu and cold water in a pan and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat just as it comes to a boil and add the dried squid and mushrooms. Cover and let sit while you finish the Ramen Noodles.
Strain the dashi and add to a bowl with vegetables as desired. I re-heated up the stock in the microwave with the corn while I cooked the egg and the noodles. It was hot enough after a quick reheat to cook the shrimp which had been thawed and peeled in the time it took to fix the egg and noodles.
Cook one 3 minute (soft boiled) egg by adding at least to 3 cups of water in a pot and bringing to a boil for 3 minutes. Scoop the egg and place aside while you cook the noodles in the boiling water. Fresh noodles take less that a minute to cook so be careful not to over do it. Strain the noodles and peel the egg. Add everything to a bowl and top with your favorites toppings.
I used Garlic Ghee and Garlic Crisps along with slices of both the re-hydrated shiitake mushrooms and dried squid from the dashi.
You have to start somewhere, so I started with this recipe, and It was perfect. Three simple ingredients.
300 gm of Bread flour.
1/2 cup of warm water.
1 tsp Koon Chun Potassium Carbonate & Sodium Bi-Carbonate (kansui).
Ramen Noodle Ingredients
You just have to avoid the Kitchen Aid sadness . Brand new pasta attachment with the fail. It stopped spinning during the first piece of noodle dough. One more item on the Healing bench.
Kitchen Aid Sadness
Old Trusty hand me down from Grandma to the rescue.
