Then we wanted to play with it so added kimchi to make kimchi kimbop.

Later I mixed a canned tuna and Red hot pepper paste and used that to make Tuna Kimbop too. Pretty good with sesame leaves too.

I think it would taste pretty good to use Spicy Tuna Recipe in Kimbop.

Seaweed laver (Kim)/Sushi nori on ebay

100 Sheets Roasted laver Seaweed Sushi Nori Gimbap US $15.70

Korean Roasted Kimchi Seaweed Laver Nori 12 Packs Lot US $9.99

Kimbop roll mat on ebay

BAMBOO SUSHI MAT Makisu Roll Asia Chinese Japanese 9.5" US $2.77

Bamboo Sushi Mat ~ Brand New~ Lowest Start Bid~ US $.01

Helen's Asian Kitchen Sushi Mat & Rice Paddle Kit US $5.89

2 LARGE BAMBOO SUSHI MATS NEVER USED!!!! US $.99

I opened my fridge hoping there's something (please~) I can eat.
I found leftover Japchae*, Stir fried glass noodles with veggies, Yay food!

I need to heat it up but thought of just stir frying with steamed rice to make a quick single meal.
Usually I would need to put soysauce and stir fry but I wanted to try little different taste. I am not a big fan of Japchae... (being Korean doesn't mean I have to like it right?) so I wanted it to taste it little different.

I found this Trader Joe's Soyaki Sauce we just bought to try with Chicken.

It has strong ginger flavor, which I love, so I used Soyaki instead of regular soy sauce.

It actually turned out great for me! It tasted more like Japanese with ginger flavor. I had some pickled ginger left so I ate it with that and had a nice quick meal.

Thanks Trader Joe's....LOL. Now, problem is... I want some sushi....

*Japchae-If you don't need a whole pot of Japchae, it's better to buy from Korean Market Banchan Prepared food section. You need to cut all the veggies, stir fry separately then mix them altogether. Whew...

Jack Daniel's EZ Marinader Marinade Sauce 1 Bag US $4.50

12 COUPONS $1/1 KIKKOMAN TERIYAKI MARINADE & SAUCE - EXP 5/31/12 US $1.29

20 $1 off KIKKOMAN TERIYAKI SAUCE COUPONS!!! $20 Value!!! US $1.99

These days you can basically find ramyun everywhere...grocery store...convenient stores...wow...
Not all ramyuns/ramen are spicy so you get to choose from non-spicy, mild, and very spicy!

When you want something really spicy Shin Ramyun is the way to go, but I personally think Shin Ramyun is TOO spicy. But many Koreans like Shin Ramyun.

Shin Ramyun on eBay

Nong Shim Shin Ramyun/Ramen Hot Spicy 1 Box of 20 Pks US $23.80

There are Jjamppong style, Vietnamese noodle style, Japanese Udong style...etc.

Ramyuns on eBay

20 Shin Ramyun Ramen Hot Spicy Korean Instant Noodle US $24.99

NONG SHIM SHIN RAMYUN KOREAN NOODLE SOUP 5PC HOT SPICY US $6.99

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There are also different kinds of noodles too. Usually noodles are processed 'fried' but with all the well-being craze some ramyuns have not fried noodles.

Instant Cup noodles are also easy and convenient when you don't even want to get a pot out!

When you cook your ramyun if you don't like it too salty, add more water than the direction or add less of the powder sauce. I sometimes add little soysauce and just half the powder.

I don't think there's no right way to eat ramyun. Just enjoy the way you want it.
I always do and try to be creative by adding different stuff in my (too lazy to cook anything else) special ramyun. LOL!

So how do you like your ramyun?

If you don't want to cook your own steamed rice or just don't have time to, there's a solution for you over at Asian Markets. It's called HatBan (Just means Fresh Rice.) It's all cooked and prepackaged into one serving. Just open it little bit and microwave it 2 minutes...I think...LOL
Please read the direction. It tastes pretty good. Many singles and students use this since you can store it longer and won't go bad or dry out. And whenever you need it, just microwave it and in no time you have hot just cooked rice. Yay!

It's good for lunch, for dorm life, or just quick meal. Enjoy!

However, as ironic as it may sound...I do LOVE pickles and this spicy cucumber salad! Yummmm!!
In fact, this banchan is my FAVORITE!!!!!! I can eat so much rice with just this alone.

Like I told you before, I hate FRESH cucumber because of that FRESH seed smell, which cucumber lovers like it FRESH... as for me, pickles are 'pickled' and this recipe actually doesn't use the seed part (Keep this in mind to just throw away! or eat it if you must....)

No seeds, spicy, sweet, and fresh crunchy...Mmmmmmmmm...I want some!

Why should you eat this?
1. Eat more vegetables in different ways: In fact, that's the beauty of Korean food! You get to eat vegetables in many tasty ways! Not just regular old salad anymore!
2. Healthy diet and weight loss: more veggies, more benefits your and less greasy stuff means lose weight! Yay!
3. Spicy foods promote and protects health and possibly weight loss too: If you can't take the heat, please don't over do it.

So cucumber lovers or not, as long as you are not allergic to it...
Shall we start?

Ingredients:
5 cucumbers (You know those big fat juicy kind?)
OR 10 small cucumbers
1tbsp salt
1tsp ground garlic
1tsp sesame oil
2tbsp hot red pepper paste
2tsp sugar
OR skip the sugar if you are diabetic like my dad
1tsp roasted sesame seeds (OPTIONAL)
And some chopped green onions!

First, clean and peel the skin off.

Then, cut around the seed center part by cutting one side and turn it to cut the other side, thus making a rectangular remain of the center seed part (Very left one in the pic). DON'T use the seed center part and slice others thinly.

Now, put all the cucumber slices in a mixing bowl and sprinkle salt all around and mix it so all the slices will be 'pickled' briefly. Let it sit for 15 minutes.We are not making Kimchi, so we don't need to let it sit too long. Just enough that it's flexible or soft but still fresh and crunchy.

After 15 minutes, wash them thoroughly. We don't want it to get too salty.

When you are done rinsing it out we need to squeeze out the excess water out. But gently please. If you are too strong...it would all get mushy and lifeless. So gentle firm squeeze will be good. We just need to get enough water out...not to completely dry it out, so don't worry too much.

Add garlic, hot pepper paste, sesame oil, and sugar.

Now, mix it well. You will end up having watery sauce. Don't throw it away. It's part of banchan. You used juicy cucumber after all!

You are done! Serve with rice. You can even eat the extra sauce (watery part) with rice too.

*If red pepper paste is too spicy for you, just add less and vice versa.*

Enjoy!

Other Banchan/Sidedish Recipe:
Korean style Pickl (Oiji)
Fresh Tofu Salad
Stir Fried Eggplant
Mini Ground Turkey Pancake
Zucchini Jun

Kimchi Recipes:
Traditional Whole Napa Cabbage Kimchi
Quick 'n Easy version Kimchi
Non Spicy American Cabbage Kimchi
Kimchi Fried Rice
Young Radish Water (YeoulMoo Mul) Kimchi
White Non-Spicy Kimchi

Kimchi Facts:
About Kimchi
Different Tastes of Kimchi
Korean Homemade Kimchi Part I-Most Popular
Homemade Kimchi vs Store Bought Kimchi