Gilding The Lily Store Bought Ramen

I keep a package of frozen ramen noodles in the freezer for emergencies. Tonight felt like an emergency in that I was cranky, hungry, and didn't feel like cooking at all. It is cold and rainy. Eating store-bought ramen is definitely a time-saver, but adding a few fillips of one's own makes it feel like proper comfort food. Mine are listed below.

Make the noodles as directed on the package, including the soup package which, in frozen ramen tends to be an actual stock rather than the chem-pack that comes with instant ramen (which I tend to save up and toss into boiled unshelled edamame.)

Put a dash of soy sauce and a tab of red miso in the bottom of the bowl that you are going to be using.

While the water for the noodles in coming to a boil, make half a recipe of Hokkaido Beef.

When the noodles have a minute left, add a handful of baby spinach to the boiling water.

Add a tablespoon of the pasta water to the bowl and mix well with the soy sauce and miso to form a paste. Add the noodles and stock.

Top with the Hokkaido beef and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.