Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars by Clifton Collins
Authors: Clifton Collins
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prison, races stick together. You’ll see a bond here that doesn’t quite exist in the same way out in the free world. The whites got a thing they call The Klan, the blacks got the muscle, and the Mexicans got the knives. However, when correctional officers mistreat or disrespect inmates, those inmates can unite in war against the officers. I’m talking inmates banding together, putting race issues aside.
There was one officer in particular who’d always abuse his power. He treated all inmates, all races, the same way—like shit. One day, he messed with the wrong convict. As he was escorting one particular homie out of the cellblock, this escorting officer punched the handcuffed convict right in the face. In seconds, all the nearby inmates who saw it happen—black, white, and Hispanic—jumped on the correctional officer. We were all tear-gassed and all the COs raced to the yard in an attempt to control what was turning into a full-on riot. The convict who had been punched while cuffed had Down syndrome, and he’d been like a little brother to everyone, made mistakes like everyone else. That day, in Corcoran, we all came together.
Standing alone and apart, we’re nothing but puppets, but together we could do some good—even in prison. This Ramen & Bean Jambalaya seems like that. A mixture of odd ingredients apart, but when they come together, you get an amazing dish that blends beautifully.
Ramen & Bean Jambalaya
Ingredients
2 packs any flavor Ramen
1½ cups boiling water
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) hot chili with beans
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) black beans, drained
1 summer sausage (about 9 ounces), chopped, or 1 can (9 ounces) Vienna sausage, drained and chopped
2 jalapeño chiles, chopped
Louisiana or other hot sauce
1. Crush the Ramen in the wrappers and empty into a bowl. Save the seasoning packets for another use.
2. Add the water, cover, and let it sit for 8 minutes.
3. Drain off excess water.
4. Mix the chili, black beans, sausage, and jalapeños in a microwavable bowl.
5. Add hot sauce to taste for an extra kick.
6. Cover and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, until hot.
7. Add the Ramen. Mix well.
In the Circle
T here were many snowy nights in Tehachapi State Prison, when the homies and I would hang out around the handball court bleachers, sharing war stories from our youth and reminiscing about the hearts we broke along the way. Some of us were fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands. Some were short-timers, but most of the group were lifers. I was honored that these men would allow me to join their circle. Lifers don’t usually socialize with short-timers. They stay away from guys who have parole dates. It’s about disconnecting with the free world. Not having to hear “When I get out I’m going to . . .” or “I have just a few months left.” These words don’t fit in a lifer’s vocabulary. There are some guys who mix well, of course, but it’s totally up to the lifer who he allows in his circle.
The knowledge and wisdom I gained in prison can be credited to these men. From Big Topo, I learned to attack before I ever had to defend. His advice kept me alive in many questionable circumstances. Fred M. pointed out the key is to never stop learning. Seek out all the schooling you can—formal and informal. And from every lifer, I learned to appreciate my freedom. So, to this day, I find myself drinking a Cadillac every morning and thinking of the times I shared with them, surviving the hellhole, and trying to make sure I never go back.
Cadillac Coffee
Ingredients
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (preferably Taster’s Choice or Folgers)
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons French vanilla flavor creamer
3 tablespoons honey
1. Place the coffee in a very large mug.
2. Add the water and stir.
3. Add the sugar and creamer and stir.
4. Add the honey and stir some more.
Repeating the Lesson
N ine years after being released from prison, I ended up back on the
There was one officer in particular who’d always abuse his power. He treated all inmates, all races, the same way—like shit. One day, he messed with the wrong convict. As he was escorting one particular homie out of the cellblock, this escorting officer punched the handcuffed convict right in the face. In seconds, all the nearby inmates who saw it happen—black, white, and Hispanic—jumped on the correctional officer. We were all tear-gassed and all the COs raced to the yard in an attempt to control what was turning into a full-on riot. The convict who had been punched while cuffed had Down syndrome, and he’d been like a little brother to everyone, made mistakes like everyone else. That day, in Corcoran, we all came together.
Standing alone and apart, we’re nothing but puppets, but together we could do some good—even in prison. This Ramen & Bean Jambalaya seems like that. A mixture of odd ingredients apart, but when they come together, you get an amazing dish that blends beautifully.
Ramen & Bean Jambalaya
Ingredients
2 packs any flavor Ramen
1½ cups boiling water
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) hot chili with beans
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) black beans, drained
1 summer sausage (about 9 ounces), chopped, or 1 can (9 ounces) Vienna sausage, drained and chopped
2 jalapeño chiles, chopped
Louisiana or other hot sauce
1. Crush the Ramen in the wrappers and empty into a bowl. Save the seasoning packets for another use.
2. Add the water, cover, and let it sit for 8 minutes.
3. Drain off excess water.
4. Mix the chili, black beans, sausage, and jalapeños in a microwavable bowl.
5. Add hot sauce to taste for an extra kick.
6. Cover and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, until hot.
7. Add the Ramen. Mix well.
In the Circle
T here were many snowy nights in Tehachapi State Prison, when the homies and I would hang out around the handball court bleachers, sharing war stories from our youth and reminiscing about the hearts we broke along the way. Some of us were fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands. Some were short-timers, but most of the group were lifers. I was honored that these men would allow me to join their circle. Lifers don’t usually socialize with short-timers. They stay away from guys who have parole dates. It’s about disconnecting with the free world. Not having to hear “When I get out I’m going to . . .” or “I have just a few months left.” These words don’t fit in a lifer’s vocabulary. There are some guys who mix well, of course, but it’s totally up to the lifer who he allows in his circle.
The knowledge and wisdom I gained in prison can be credited to these men. From Big Topo, I learned to attack before I ever had to defend. His advice kept me alive in many questionable circumstances. Fred M. pointed out the key is to never stop learning. Seek out all the schooling you can—formal and informal. And from every lifer, I learned to appreciate my freedom. So, to this day, I find myself drinking a Cadillac every morning and thinking of the times I shared with them, surviving the hellhole, and trying to make sure I never go back.
Cadillac Coffee
Ingredients
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (preferably Taster’s Choice or Folgers)
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons French vanilla flavor creamer
3 tablespoons honey
1. Place the coffee in a very large mug.
2. Add the water and stir.
3. Add the sugar and creamer and stir.
4. Add the honey and stir some more.
Repeating the Lesson
N ine years after being released from prison, I ended up back on the
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