I just finished up the latest (and yes by latest, I’m almost a year late) of the Kim Harrison Hallow’s book series. It’s the 9th and probably my favorite yet, until those last few paragraphs. It’s got witches, demons, vampires, werewolves, fairies and a dramatic lack of glitter, which is kind of how I like my paranormal creatures. All in all they are ok books, light, easy reads before bed. Something you could kick out in a night or two, or just slowly pace your way through. There isn’t an urgency to rush, or rather a need to.
The Hallows books are (or were the last time I stepped foot in a brick and mortar business) filed under horror, but they are not at all scary. More a little action story that happens to have characters that could toss a magic missile if they needed to. Most importantly, they aren’t filed in romance.
Here’s the killer people, I can’t do romance. I read Laurel K. Hamilton’s Vampire Hunter until they became all about the boomshakalaka and gave up. I got 132 pages into one and realized there had yet to be a plot point, put the book down and never looked back. I kind of like the J.D. Robb In Death books because I can just skip the pages with the steam and not miss a beat of the story. And I am not yet ready to take on the biblicaly portioned Game of Thrones novels Handsome tore through.
So what’s a girl to do? What do you recommend? I need something light, enjoyable and not packed with 27 vampires, 14 werewolves and a slew other other creatures all lusting after one blonde. Help!
Slow Cooker Japanese Pork and Ramen Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 onions, minced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbs minced or grated fresh ginger
- 1 tbs vegetable oil
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 12 0z shitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced thin
- 1 ½ lbs boneless country-style pork ribs, trimmed
- Salt and pepper
- 3 3-oz packages ramen noodles, flavoring packets discarded
- 6 oz baby spinach (about 6 cups)
- 2 tbs white miso, plus extra for serving
- 2 tbs low-sodium soy sauce, plus extra for serving
- 1 tbs mirin
- 1 teas toasted sesame oil
- 2 scallions, sliced thin
- 1 tbs sesame seeds, toasted
Preparation:
Microwave onions, garlic, and oil in bowl, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5 minutes transfer to slow cooker.
Stir broth and shitakes into slow cooker. Season pork with salt and pepper and nestle into slow cooker. Cover and cook until pork is tender, 6 to 8 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high.
Transfer pork to cutting board, let cool slightly, thin shred into bite-sized pieces. Let soup settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using large spoon. Stir in noodles and spinach, cover and cook on high until noodles are tender, 3 to 8 minutes.
Stir in shredded pork, miso, soy sauce, mirin and sesame oil, and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with additional miso and additional soy sauce to taste. Serve with scallions and sesame seeds.
My name is Kita. I am a 20 something girl geek and website/graphic designer who can rock an apron like there is no tomorrow.
It’s ironic – the Sous Chef and I were talking just this weekend about buying ramen noodles, throwing away the “sodium packet” and revamping them ourselves! Nice work!
I love me some good noodle soup!! I’m going to have to try this when I get a chance.
I’ll read anything to get this bowl of ramen.
Oh you’re hilarious – a bunch of us always seem to read and recommend the same series. Not sure if you’ve read any of these or are interested but these have all been enjoyable (all series): House of Night, Vampire Academy (highly recommend), Sookie stackhouse – southern vampire series, and Fever series. They’ve all got some romance/lusty aspects but there’s action too.
Yum. I love ramen. This looks awesome.
This is what I would wanna eat all the time
It looks so comforting and delicious 
Sounds great!
I also love making soups like this in a rice cooker. Great flavor profile!
Wish I could have some of this for lunch right now. Awesome flavors!
Ooh, Kita! This dish looks just wonderful! I was thinking about buying ramen, throwing out the packets, and doing my own thing with them
Thanks for providing us with a deliciously awesome recipe. I can just feel the comfort!
looks so good. you are the slow cooking machine. Your place must smell delicious all the time!
too hardcore for the romance. I like it. I hope you find something entertaining to read soon
Recipe looks delish!
For books – try Patricia Briggs – strong, kick-ass main female character, werewolves, vamps, no sparkling anywhere
I just want to cuddle up to a HUGE bowl of this!!
This looks delicious. Gonna try it as soon as the weather gets cooler. I love Rachel and company, my favorite vampire books. I’ve also given up on the Laurel K. Hamilton books. Have you read The Hunger Games trilogy? No vamps or werewolves or fairies and such, but lots of great action! I found you via foodgawker, off to check out more. Happy reading!
This looks delicious, but the post is pure gold! You are SO funny! Boomshakalaka?! Dramatic lack of glitter? AWESOME!
OMG- I cant wait to try this!!! I just had ramen tonight so its totally on my mind.
Yummmm! Congratulations on top 9 today!
Hi Kita, Congrats on the top 9! Sorry can’t really recommend a light reading, I’m reading a book on Zen Buddhism. I’m with you on the romance books, can’t do that. Vampire books only from Ann Rice. Your ramen looks like the perfect meal to sit and read a good book. So yummy!
Any light reading I do is usually in the detective genre like Sue Grafton’s series “alphabet series”: A is for Alibi etc. or epic/family sagas. I could use a bowl of steaming hot ramen right now – we’re having a cold snap here in Cali! Congrats on the Top 9!
Wow, I want some now! and congrats on top 9!
Made the Ramen today and it was delicious! Even my 7 and 4 year old boys loved it and both were asking for more. Yeah, I made a few minor adjustments (mostly because I don’t have a crock pot), but found this recipe to be a winner that will fall into our winter rotation of meals, I’m sure. My oldest was already asking if there was any left, and if he could have it tomorrow night for dinner.
As far as a good read-just finished When She Woke by Hillary Jordan–could barely put it down!
Try Patricia Brigg’s “Moon Called”. Ignore the cover are and flavor text. It’s a solid piece of fiction that’s exactly what you’re describing. There’s a bit of a love interest thing, but it’s subtle and there’s no boomshakalaka. It’s a solid bit of story telling from a competent author.
And by the way, I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Wowzers this looks absolutely delicious! But I do have a question. The final result looks amazing, but the slow-cooking route of the pork seems like a long time, and I don’t have much patience! Do you have any suggestions for doing this in a slightly faster way? I really really want to give it a go.
Thank you thank you
Oh geez…raaammmmennnn!!!! Been hankering for the good stuff lately and the stuff in the restaurant is terribly expensive… never would have gone the slow cooker route, though, thank you very much. On to reading material;
My wife has got me hooked on the following –
Ilona Andrews – The Edge Series and the Kate Daniel’s Series (itty bits of romance but a lot more hard core chick butt kickin’)
Patricia Briggs – The Mercy Thompson Series
Jim Butcher – The Dresden Files Series
Rob Thurman – Cal Leandros Series
Shelly Laurenston – anything, it’s all were-critter related. The “romance” is pretty spotty (but pretty graphic), but the characters and stories are hilarious.
Enjoy!!!
I made this today, and it was fabulous! My husband kept saying, “wow this is really good”! I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for an awesome recipe!
I make this all the time now! So good.