I grew up with SPAM!  I mean, we had it for breakfast, in place of ham or on a sandwich instead of bologna. I love it, but I know people who say, “no way”!

Well, those people need to give SPAM Musubi a try!  If you’ve never had one of these fantastic snacks, you haven’t lived.  Don’t let the SPAM or seaweed scare you.  These are fabulous!  I mean seriously, FABULOUS!

SPAM Musubi with Egg:

2 cups uncooked Calrose Rice – $.45
1 (12 ounce) can SPAM or any fully cooked luncheon meat – $2.45
5 sheets sushi nori (dry seaweed) – $1.50
2 Large Eggs – $.40
Soy Sauce – pantry
Hot Mustard – (if you like it)

COST: $4.80

Cook your rice. Preferably Calrose. Calrose is also called sticky rice. It’s moist and yummy and perfect for musubi!

Pour rice into pot. Make sure your pot has a good lid. Add water to pot until it’s above the rice, precisely to your first finger tip knuckle line. Cover and bring to boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to slow simmer. Cook 20 mins and leave covered. DO NOT LIFT LID BEFORE 20 MINS!

While rice is cooking, you can prepare your scrambled egg and cook the SPAM. For eggs, simple beat together and make a large, thin omelet. Set aside. Next, open your SPAM, making sure to save your can. This will be your musubi maker and rice shaper. Slice SPAM in 1/8 to 1/4 in thick slices and lightly fry.

When rice is cooked and still hot, scoop 2-3 Tbsps in the SPAM can and mash down to form a rectangle. Cut nori sheets in half, vertically and lay on a flat surface. Place rectangular slice of your scrambled egg and then a slice of SPAM.  Top with pressed rice and wrap your musubi.  See pics.

Again, make sure rice is hot as this will seal the nori. If rice cools, microwave slightly to get warm again.

You can serve these delicious snacks as sides, breakfast entrees or even as a replacement for lunch sandwiches. My kids go crazy for these. Oh, and they’re great for road trips!

Shoyu Shrimp Ramen:

2 packages Ramen Noodles (Chicken or Shrimp Flavor) – $.40
20 to 25 frozen Shrimp, Shell on (I get a bag for 5.99 and use about 1/2 the bag) – $3.00
1-2 Tbsp Shoyu Sauce (Soy Sauce can substitute) – pantry
4 boiled Egg sliced – $.80
*top with diced green onion, if you like (my kids don’t)

COST: $4.20

I know you have ramen noodles in your cabinet. We all do, right? It’s just about the cheapest thing you can buy, as far as meals are concerned. But, it’s quite boring and not very filling.

Well, give it a little pizazz with some shrimp and shoyu!

Before you start your noodles cooking, boil your eggs for 8-10 minutes. I prefer 8, but some people like hard boiled.  Set aside to cool.

Next, boil water as directed per Ramen noodle package and add dried noodles. Cook for 2 minutes, then add thawed shrimp and broth packets. Bring soup back up to boil and cook till shrimp are pink and noodles are soft.  Last, add shoyu sauce and serve with one sliced boiled egg fanned on top of each bowl of soup.

So easy and goes perfect with SPAM Musubi. All you need now is an ice cold Mai Tai. Oh yeah! Reminds me of many relaxing afternoons on Kauai. Nothing like the “real” saimin, but if I have to eat Ramen, let it be Shrimp Ramen.

GRAND TOTAL: $9.00