RAMEN NOODLE SOUP WITH CHICKEN, KALE, MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Good Morning to you,

I was flicking through the television channels the other evening, wondering what to watch, when for some reason or another, I flicked a little too far and found the children's channels. I decided out of interest, to take a look at the programmes, to see if I recognised any.... and do you know something,  I did not recognise one.

Oh dear, I am really out of touch, when it comes to children's programmes.

... but having said that, I have heard about one children's programme.  Notice I say 'heard about' and not that I 'know anything about'.... the programme Peppa Pig. The reason for this is,  our friends, gorgeous little boy, is besotted with the programme, but other than Peppa Pig, I draw a blank when it comes to children's programmes.

..... so I started  thinking about my own childhood and the programmes which were available to us, as children, in the 1950's. The first programme which sprang to mind, was Torchy, Torchy, The Battery Boy, actually, come to think of it, I think it was the song which repeated Torchy and the programme itself, was called Torchy, The Battery Boy.

Now if you are British and you are around my age, I feel sure you will remember Torchy.

If not, let me enlighten you. 

Torchy was a little puppet boy, who was created by Mr Bumbledrop .... don't you just love that name. Torchy, as you might have guessed, was powered by a torch battery and he lived with Mr Bumbledrop and his dog, Pom-Pom, in Topsy-Turvy Land.... and how I loved this programme. I loved all of Torchy's adventures. I have to tell you something,  I always thought that Torchy lived in a land far away, where everyone had strings attached to their clothing.  I did not realise Torchy was a puppet.... such is a child's imagination.... and I had imagination by the bucketful. 

When Torchy was on the television, I always sang along to the song,

Torchy, Torchy the Battery boy

I'm a walkie, talkie toy

Press my switch,

See my bulb start to beam

It's the most magic light

You have seen.

Isn't the brain a wonderful thing, do you know I can put my glasses down and not remember where I put them, but I can remember a song from over 55 years ago.

How about you, what was your favourite childhood programme? 

I feel sure it was probably much more sophisticated than Torchy the Battery Boy.

So from the old, we will move on to the new,

Recently, I have been reading a lot about ramen noodles, so I thought I would try them out..... then what do you know, a recipe appeared in my favourite magazine,  Good Housekeeping, so I just had to see, what all the fuss was about.

I have not stayed true to the recipe, I adapted it slightly, to use the ingredients which I had to hand.  

So today, we are making,

Ramen Noodle soup with chicken, kale, mushrooms and spinach.  This differs so much from my usual soups, because as a rule, I make a much thicker soup and not a broth.... but I have to tell you, I was pleasantly surprised with the results, as the soup was jam packed with flavour.... and more importantly George loved it.

So 'it's on with the pinnie' and today, instead of music, I am listening to,

Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'.  I love listening to stories and often tune into Radio 4, Afternoon Drama. At the moment I am listening to 'The Right Ingredients' by Pat Davis..... but I digress, back to Tess.  There is something so soothing about listening to a person telling a story.... and I am really enjoying Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

So I thought you might like to listen to Chapter 1, 'A Question of Ancestry'.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

So whilst I listen to Martin Shaw's soothing voice, it is time to organise my ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

YOU WILL NEED

TO MAKE

RAMEN NOODLE SOUP

Serves 2

3 chicken thighs

100g dried ramen noodles

2 cloves of garlic

3 cm of fresh ginger

600 ml of chicken stock

2 teaspoons of soy sauce

1 tablespoon of miso paste

1 tablespoon of sesame oil

4 large brown chestnut mushrooms

2 handfuls of chopped kale

2 handfuls of chopped spinach

HOW 

TO MAKE

RAMEN NOODLE SOUP

FIRSTLY

Place the chicken thighs onto a baking tray and place in an 180C oven until roasted.

When cooked, removed the skin and slice into bite size pieces.

SECONDLY

We need to slice and grate the ingredients, because this soup comes together very quickly.

So let us begin.

Grate the garlic and the ginger.

Set aside for the moment.

Clean the mushrooms

then 

slice each mushroom.

Set aside.

Wash 

and then

chop the kale.

Set aside.

Wash the spinach leaves

and set aside.

Measure the chicken stock.... it is important that

the chicken stock is of good quality.  

I appreciate you might not have the time

 to make your own stock, 

but do choose a good, ready made chicken stock 

as the stock really enhances the

 flavour of this soup.

NOW IT'S TIME TO COOK THE RAMEN NOODLES

Fill a kettle with water and bring it to the boil.  

Pour the hot water into a medium sized saucepan and 

return the water to a simmer.

While waiting for the water to return to a simmer,

Place the sesame oil in a second medium sized saucepan

and

add the ginger and garlic.

Cook for a minute.

Add the chicken stock

the soy sauce,

the miso paste

and

bring to a simmer.

Now is the time to add the

ramen noodles to the pan of simmering water.

Cook for 4 minutes.

While the ramen noodles are cooking,

add the chopped kale,

and

the sliced mushrooms, to the pan, with the chicken stock

and

simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from the heat

and 

add the spinach.

Place a lid on the pan

and allow the spinach to wilt.

Divide the cooked, sliced chicken

between two bowls.

Drain the ramen noodles

and

divide the noodles between the

 two bowls.

As you can see the chicken is completely hidden

 by the ramen noodles.

Divide the kale, mushrooms,

spinach

and broth between the two bowls.

Find your chop sticks

 and 

enjoy.

Oh yes, you will also 

need a spoon to enjoy this delicious broth.

I was really pleased with this soup, because as I mentioned, George, who is a lover of really thick soups, also enjoyed it.  So this Ramen Noodle soup will certainly be staying on the menu in this home.

Just as an added thought, if you prefer to use chicken breasts, then please do, but do not roast them, as I find they become too dry. Instead poach them, which keeps the chicken moist. 

.... and finally, before I leave you, have you had any thoughts about your favourite childhood programme?

I'd love to know.

Take care and I will see you next Thursday.

This week I will be joining,

Leslie from Lamberts Lately for Create it Thursday

and

Miz Helens Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday