Easy Stir Fry Ramen Noodles

I’ve been in a little funk this year, which I’ll explain in a bit in that wordy part of a recipe blog that people love to hate, but one bright spot of 2022 so far has been my second go-round with vegan January. This time around it was more of a slow-roll into eliminating animal products and not a challenge. Just more of a personal commitment to do better for my body and this Earth. I never completely cut animal products out, especially if I was out for dinner or a meal with friends, but at home, I did work to cook and consume only plant-based meals. This recipe for Easy Stir Fry Ramen Noodles was born from January’s adventure (that’s lasting well into February) and it’s one that I am confident, even if you are not a plant-based food lover, you will love this one. Just top it with some chicken or an egg.

Trust me. You’ll fall in love.

But first, let’s talk a bit about January, shall we?

When the clock struck midnight and this year rolled into 2022, I was optimistic. Sure, if the past two years have taught us anything it’s that nothing, no chaos, no disaster, and no upheaval is off-limits in any year, but I still felt a sense of relief, as if this year would finally provide us some relief.

I felt this on a worldwide level, with everything opening up and this dreaded virus seeming to take a turn for the better, not worse. And I felt this personally as well, as if everything I had been working for these past 4 years, this was the year they were going to align and come into my full vision. I felt energetic and motivated and had a clear direction of where I wanted to take both my social media business AND this blog.

In fact, on January 3rd this is the exact prayer I wrote in my journal: “Lord, help me be strong enough, determined enough, AND brave enough to carve my own YES into this world. Amen.”

I didn’t write this because I was facing any big hurdle or wall or roadblock (yet) but it’s funny how prophetic my own words were, how filled with foreshadowing they would become in ways I probably never even imagined. I think, at the time, I wrote them because I was filled with a sense of determination to pave my own path I had not felt previously. I wrote it because I was, and still am, tired of asking for permission to follow my dreams or do something big and joy-filled and, yes, a little crazy and out there, only to hear NO and be shot down without question.

Sometimes, even in optimistic January, I feel like I am living in a giant world of NO. And when I wrote that prayer I was writing it in defiance of this NO. I was writing it because I want to achieve big things and there is nothing wrong with that. And I was tired of looking outside of myself for permission to do them.

I knew then, and I know now, that my future YES is mine to write. And I can and will do it.

But then, January 5th hit, and my entire world ground to a halt with the first COVID positive in my family.

Kenzie fell first with a headache, low-grade fever, and more troubling for her, no energy to go to gymnastics. POSITIVE TEST. Then I dropped like a fly, body aches, fatigue, all the things. She was sick for 2 days but had to be out of school and gym for 10. I was sick for 10.

No one else got it. We prayed prayers of thankfulness. I got better.

Ten days later on January 15 (Connor’s birthday), Jeff tested positive. Then Dillon. Then Connor got sick, yet somehow miraculously tested negative.

All in varying degrees of severity. All younger ones home, missing school and sports.

On February 7th, we were all clear. Everyone was back to school. The last positive was now negative. I breathed a sigh of relief. NOW 2022 can really start. I was ready. Prayed the prayer again. I was on my way.

Then, on February 13th, Dillon tested positive for the flu, sicker than he ever was with COVID.

And I about fell apart.

What the actual f*** 2022? Can you throw us a bone here?

I wanted to scream and fall apart and cry. In fact, when we got back from the doctor I did hop in a nice warm shower, not because I needed to get clean. But because I needed to cry and scream a little. It’s not that I am overly worried about Dillon’s health, though he is sicker than I have ever seen him. And it’s not even really that I can’t get work done with him home, he’s not a toddler anymore who needs constant attention and I can get a lot of work done from my home office.

It was more just a total WTF moment where I felt like the universe was stacking all the cards against me (yes, I can be selfish in my dark moments) and aligning in such a way that my little prayer was more of a joke than a prediction. And I got deep in my feelings about this. I didn’t dress for three days. I didn’t do my yoga or walk. I barely got out of bed.

I let worry and frustration and depression all take over. And it took me out for a day or two.

But then, today, I decided to fight back. I wrote that prayer before any of this went down. And if I want that prayer, and my own YESES, to come to fruition, I’ve got to keep going no matter what is thrown at me. So I got out of bed. Did some yoga and started a new devotional (I’m sharing it on Wednesday and it’s amazing), and I got freaking dressed like Get Your Pretty On told me to.

And here I am, back at it. Making my YESES come true one tiny step at a time.

Listen, I know everyone’s journey is different. And I know that your roadblocks will be different than mine. But I know you’ll have them. And if I had to guess, I know you’ll probably feel at some time that you’re living in a world of NO too, one where there seems to be hurdle after hurdle all intent on pushing your dreams back down, stifling your spirit again.

I think we all go through this.

So here we are, full circle, back to this prayer. I want you to save it. Print it out if you have to. Do whatever you need to do with it so that the next time you feel like the world is conspiring against you and all you hear is NO after NO after NO, you can pull it out and refer back to it. Say it when you’re afraid and your voice is shaking. Say it when the NO is loud and your YES is a whisper. But say it.

I’m right beside you, on this February day trying to get my MOJO back so my YES returns. We’re in it together.

Because the world needs us to write our own YESES. I promise. It does.

Easy Ramen Stir Fry Noodles

This tasty little recipe for easy ramen stir fry noodles was born from my second adventure with Vegan January. Unlike my first, where I made separate meals for myself almost every night, I wanted something that would do double duty for both the meatless and meat-eaters in my family. This noodle dish fits that bill well.

Garlic is, of course, one of my love languages, so it is very heavy on the garlic. The green onions balance it well, along with the richness of the coconut milk. But if you’re “meh” on garlic, I would pull back to two cloves instead of my whopping SIX. But other than that, this recipe is the perfect underpinning for protein (read: meat) and vegetables.

I make a giant pot, which for us is 3 packets of Ramen noodles (discard that nasty packet, of course), and then use pre-shredded chicken for the kids and Jeff and quick stir-fry veggies for myself. My favorites are carrots, red peppers, and zucchini. It’s so easy to throw together but gives us all a healthy and hearty dinner we can feel good about.

It keeps well, too. So if you take your lunch to work or just need quick leftover lunches at your work-from-home desk, it is your best friend.

Just remember, be your own yes. Make your own ramen. And let’s make 2022 great. Together.

Peace, love, and yeses,

Meg

easy stir fry ramen noodles

February 15, 2022

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By: Meaghan Dawson

Ingredients

• 6 scallions sliced thin, white and green parts separated
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 packs of Ramen noodles, spice packets discarded
• 1/2 cup coconut milk (not lite)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• Sriracha or hot sauce to top (optional)

Directions

• Step 1 Cook Ramen according to package direction, draining instead of adding seasoning packet.
• Step 2 Set aside.
• Step 3 In a medium skillet, drizzle a tiny bit of oil and heat on medium-high heat.
• Step 4 Add garlic and cook, 1 minute stirring constantly. It’s important not to burn it, so add water by the teaspoon if the pan seems to be drying out.
• Step 5 Add white part (bottoms) of scallions. Cook for 2-3 more minutes or until both are softened.
• Step 6 Add coconut milk, soy sauce, and hoisin, stirring until completely combined.
• Step 7 Add noodles, stirring completely to combine.
• Step 8 Serve immediately, topped with green scallions, sesame seeds and hot sauce if using.

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