Ramen noodles??? Ramen noodles??? Cooked or uncooked??? Sounds bizarre, either way!

You sure you're not a commie???

Atheling2 --

Ramen noodles are a great low-effort side dish, provided you have them with real food, and provided you don't have them more than a couple of times a month.

Nothing commie about 'em, LOL.

BTW -- wouldn't uncooked ramen noodles be a little too crunchy? And the flavoring powder just a mite dry? Ech!!!!

Just kidding. Well about the commie part. But I still have reservations about putting ramen noodles in a sandwich. Too many carbs!

Atheling2 --

They don't go IN it, just on the side, LOL.

The carb thing -- aha!

I've been doing Matt Furey's fitness program to take off some pounds, and in his daily emails he occasionally talks about what he calls "slave foods", foods made from grains. Pasta, rice, bread, corn, etc, that are cheap and filling, that will also cause weight gain.

Unfortunately, I love some slave foods, such as pasta, and could never see myself giving it up.

Those 'slave foods' also propelled the Roman Legions, for example:

When Caesar in Gaul struggled to keep his troops fed on wheat alone, and had to substitute their diet with barley, beans and meat, the troops grew discontented. It was only their fides, their loyalty , to the great Caesar which made them eat what they were given.

Granted, slaying barbarian hordes provided a fitness routine. Why do I think they would have loved ramen?

During the Civil War, Caesar's and Pompey's respective armies were encamped near Apollonia. There, Caesar's men ate a pemmican type substance made from plant roots and grass - that was how starved they were. He ate the same with them, and they loved him for it.

BB --

Some of the best cuisines around started out as "poor people's food". Look at Cajun, for example.

And I don't think Caeser's men would've had a problem with big, steaming platters of ramen noodles. Mmmmmmm.....

Atheling2 --

When I worked on Wall Street back in the early 1980s, my department sometimes had days where we were so busy correcting other peoples' screw-ups that nobody had time to go to lunch.

On one such day, the other section supervisors ordered pizzas for their people. I found and called a company called "Dial-A-Steak" and all my people had complete steak dinners delivered to them at their desks.

I ate the same with them, and they loved me for it... :-)

LOL! I bet they did love you for it.

BTW, have you seen this video?

Don't blame me if you upchuck your sandwich, but everyone should see it.

Atheling2 --

Yeah, I saw it pretty recently. After watching it, any doubts I might have had about Muslims being mental primates disappeared.

They are The Religion Of Violence.

Still serving 'freedom fries' Seth?

Better check your mustard isn't made by French Canadians. I hear they are just as bad as French French.

Have a great weekend.

Arthur --

What are you blathering about now?

My, how tragic it must be to be you!

Nope. Tragic would be to skip Fleur de Sel.

Oh well.

More for the more discerning.

Have a great weekend.

Do you allow yourself to use French recipes?

Arthur --

When I was growing up, I had a mother whose avidly pursued hobby was gourmet cooking. During the years I lived with her I ate like a prince, and she also used to take me to some of the best restaurants in New York. When I've lived in NY as an adult, I've also dined at some of the best eateries there.

I know my way around food.

That said, I've always thought French cuisine was highly overrated -- given the choice of French sounding dishes, I'd rather eat good Cajun or Creole cooking any day.

I've had dinner at a few French restaurants in which a couple doesn't get out the door for less than $400.00+ (wine included, heh). The service was slow, the portions small and the food no more enjoyable than anything I could have ordered at a decent American, Italian or Cajun joint for less than half that(wine included).

The only thing France does that nobody else can match is cognac -- I used to buy Courvoisier VSOP and XO regularly before I quit buying French products -- The late Julio Gallo did a VSOP brandy that the winery released about 6 years ago, called Patriarch, and there was only a limited supply -- that measured up. I received several bottles as a gift. Now my home bar contents itself with Christian Brothers XO, which seems to be the best steady American offering for the moment.