Packing Lunch

https://1tess.wordpress.com

Lunch is something to look forward to at work, a convivial gathering to tell stories, jokes, and a bit of light gossip, as well as a time to eat. My workplace is dangerously near to Zingerman’s excellent but expensive food, so I try to bring something from home, usually leftovers. There are times when dinner was so delicious that there is nothing left for lunch, so I gave these noodles a try hoping they would be a pantry staple for a quick-to-fix, packable, zapable meal.

Hokkien Noodles from Ka-me are wheat-based noodles which look very like udon noodles. The package says they originated in the Fujan Province of South Eastern China in the 19th century (though they are manufactured in Thailand). The shelf-stable package (approximately $2.50) contains 2 servings of pre-cooked noodles, each in its own pouch. So that saves time and pots to boil, drain, and rinse them. According to the package, they are ideal in any stir-fry, salad, or soup—but there are no flavor or sauce packets. Besides adding vegetables and protein of your choice you must also have a sauce or soup for a meal—not quite so last-minute as you must plan and prepare ahead of time.

“What does “KA-ME” stand for?
KA-ME can be literally translated as tortoise or turtle in Japanese, and is a symbol of the permanence of traditions in our approach to Asian food. For over 30 years, KA-ME has stood for quality and authenticity. Today, we are one of the leading brands of specialty Asian foods in the U.S., from cooking ingredients to traditional snacks to microwave ready meals.”

The recipe on the back of the package suggests using Kam-me stir-fry oil, sold separately, to stir-fry the vegetables. It’s sunflower oil flavored with lemon grass, garlic, and ginger. Also sold separately, is Ka-me Szechuan Sauce to flavor the stir-fried veg/protien and noodles. Neither was available at the store where I found the noodles.

For this experiment, on an evening when Mr. Tess was away, I stir-fried some garlic, sliced mini sweet red peppers, and broccoli—in plain corn oil. I added the Ka-me noodles and stir-fried for a few minutes. For additional flavor, I added some La Yu chili seseame oil and some noodle dipping sauce left from a previous meal. Last I added some Krab for color and protein.
Note: cooking for one is at least as much work as cooking for, well two or several…


Conclusion for this product: Possibly useful for work lunches, provided one has other pantry items and leftover vegetables. Not so instant otherwise. Flavor: the noodles broke into small pieces during the stir-frying, though perhaps they would retain their integrity by “poke holes in the packet and microwave on high for 90 seconds.”

Worth another try, but not especially wonderful.

“Ka-me is distributed by PANOS brands, a consumer packaged goods company created to manage a unique and defined portfolio of natural and specialty food and beverage brands.
True to its namesake — the ancient Greek word for torch — we like to think of our brands as a beacon for consumers who are increasingly demanding a wide spectrum of specialty foods.”

Premium – Authentic – Natural – Organic – Speciality

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