I stumbled upon this amazing recipe combo of beef and ramen noodles from the book:

Taste of Home: Busy Family Favorites

Serves Four

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
2 packages (3 ounces each) Oriental ramen noodles, crumbled
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups frozen broccoli; stir-fry blend
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion

At first, I thought, they couldn't possibility mean the ramen noodles I use to eat back in college? But indeed it was, and may I say how impressed I was with the end result of this meal. I picked up all of the ingredients at my local supermarket in Brooklyn, New York. The total cost was around $15.

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat for four to five minutes or until no longer pink; drain.
2. Add contents of one ramen noodles flavoring packet; stir until dissolved. Remove beef and keep warm.
3. In the same skillet, combine the water, vegetables, ginger, noodles, and contents of remaining flavoring packet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for three to four minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Return beef to the pan; cook for two to three minutes or until heated through. Stir in onion.

As you can see from the picture, the noodles are a little darker in color. This is due to my tweaking of the recipe by adding a spoonful of browning sauce. I also skipped on the lean ground beef and instead used ground turkey, which I personally believe to be a healthier choice of meat. The meal took about 25 minutes to simmer down to a hearty, lo mein look-a-like.

My overall review:

A tad bit salty for my taste buds, but that's because I tend to cook most of my meals without salt. The vegetables are a great addition to this meal; they were cooked just enough to still enjoy some crunchiness. I am glad I substituted the ground beef for the turkey. The taste was superb!

I think this is a great meal for cooking beginners. You really can't do much damage with this meal if you follow the directions. If I had to name this dish, I would call it, "The College Student Fantasy."

I think a B grade is in order for this meal.

It took less that 30 minutes to cook. The cost for ingredients was under $20, and if you can't live without salt in your meal, then this is the recipe for you!