Post #5 I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY MAIL LADY

Was expecting a package delivery on Monday.  It contained patterned paper, a couple stamp sets (reasonably priced) and all on sale.  That's one of my 'things', I don't like to pay full price for too many things and can easily wait for a sale.  I love the post office & their tracking system.  Don't get me started on FedEx or UPS.

When I placed my order on Monday of last week (our 46th anniversary) our gift to me :) for some reason I did not complete it correctly.  I wrote down the total cost plus shipping, waited all day Tuesday for an order confirmation and stuff (I've done this before), nothing.  Checked the online store site and though I remember entering the credit card info, nuthing...?  My order was still there but the total was different=less even.  After calculating, it appeared that something became out of stock in 24 hours.  Placed the order correctly & immediately had my confirmation.  It would be delivered Monday.

On Sunday, attended an afternoon event at church and waited at the light next to the Post Office and saw a large truck parked there and wondered, could my order be there?  My notification had told me that it had arrived in Honolulu that morning.  Sure enough, when I checked my e-mail it had arrived at my post office a half an hour prior.  I shouldn't be so fixated, but I get a kick out of that kind of thing.  The hope and anticipation make me happy.

On Monday, I decided to make fried saimin for hubby's lunch.  It occurred to me that I could make some for my mail lady.  Found my container and made the noodles.  Got a Starbucks bag and had a bottle of water, napkins, chopsticks & a mango ready to go when she came.  Attached a little note saying how she makes my day.  She was grateful and happy that I remembered that her mom likes mangoes.  :)



Here's the recipe:

chiyo's use what you have Fried Saimin
four packages cheapest saimin/ramen 
veggies I used onion, celery, garlic & zucchini
2 broth packets
1/2 can of low sodium spam cut into strips (char siu from the Chinese take out)
dash of sesame oil
oyster sauce optional
sesame seeds

Boil the four bricks of dried noodles with one packet of broth.  Drain and set aside.

Chop and saute onion, celery, and garlic in a small amount of oil and season with salt & pepper.  When done, add the zucchini and stir fry.  Remove and set aside. 

Cut up spam and brown in large pan.  Add noodles & veggies.  Sprinkle last broth packet and gently mix.  Add small amount of water, dash of sesame oil, sesame seeds (I use black and roasted) and cook to desired consistency.  As with fried rice, the longer you have it on the heat, the crispier it gets so I leave it on low.  That cooks down the moisture.  My hubby might add a dash of low sodium Aloha shoyu.

That reminds me of a happy food memory from over 30 years ago when I waited for the kids to get out of Kipapa Elementary school, there was always a snack truck ready to sell candy and drinks to the children who had money to spend.  This truck had the BEST fried noodles in a paper sandwich bag for only 25 cents!!!  It had no meat, just noodles and cabbage stir-fried in oil with some salt & pepper.  Needless to say, I had some every chance I could.  It was affordable and the four of us could have our own bag for a dollar.  Don't think the last kid was born yet.  Ahh, the memories.

Oh and before I forget, I found this awesome YouTube today for sewing a bag. I ordinarily don't like bags with flaps but I like this one.  Debbie has a simple and efficient way of showing you how to do it.  I'll probably try it soon, using either my quilted batik fabric or upholstery samples.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGwxlXcFixU

Let me know what you think.  Hmm, what's for dinner today?