Surviving Njaanuary

So December was lit eh? Christmas nyama and drinks at the folks, gifts for your loved ones, Sunday brunches at Brew Bistro, New Year’s trip to Diani, loads and loads of alcohol and fun – it’s December, so it’s allowed. FOMO is not an option. Every inch of your being tells you one thing, “Next month will sort itself out!”

And now here you are. It’s Njaa-nuary and you are living in the consequences of drinkcember. Broke is the name of this game. What do you do for lunch at work, what do you do for dinner…basically what do you for food? One word: Noodles!

Forget the boring cup of noodles gloriously complemented by hot steamy noodle juice for after. Here are two cool recipes you can try out with these babies in Njaanuary:

Total cost for this meal: approximately 200 bob!

VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN

Ingredients:

• 1 or 2 packs of Numi Noodles (depending on how hungry you are)
• Rina vegetable oil
• A variety of seasonal vegetables of your choice chopped in julienne (long strips)
• 3 – 5 table spoons of soy sauce
• Salt and pepper for seasoning
• 1 – 2 whole chilies split right down the middle(optional)
• 1 whole onion chopped in julienne.
• 2 tablespoons Sweet and sour sauce
• A pinch of Chinese 5 spice

Method:

1. Put a pot of water to boil and add the noodles. Boil for 2 minutes and leave to cool. You can choose to put in the sachet of flavor or not. Your choice!
2. In a wok, put a tablespoon of oil to heat.
3. Add onions and julienne of vegetables and whole chillies to fry for not more than 5 minutes as you don’t want to overcook them. They should be nice and crunchy.
4. Add in 5 spice, sweet and sour sauce and soy sauce and stir.
5. Once cooked, add in noodles and mix gently and put back on the fire for another 2 minutes and serve while hot.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

Ingredients:

• One or two packs of Numi noodles
• 1 hard-boiled egg
• Chicken breast – add salt and pepper for seasoning
• Chicken cube/stock
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Chopped Spring onions or leek

Method:

1. Put a pot of water to boil and add the noodles. You can choose to put in the sachet of flavor or not. Your choice!
2. In a pan, fry the chicken breast till well done.
3. In a separate pot, put in your egg and boil for 12 minutes. Cut in half when cooked.
4. Once your noodles are ready, separate the noodles from the noodle juice and add your chicken cube/stock and leeks or spring onions to the noodle juice and boil for another 2 minutes.
5. In a bowl, add the noodles, stock and chicken breast. Serve hot!

BON APETIT!!!