No Recipe Required......."Boscoe "Shakes........then Bakes"

The other night my room mate dropped a subliminal hint as to what he'd like me to do with the chicken thighs I had planned for dinner.  Instead of suggesting one of the myriad, tried and true recipes I've proudly mastered, he instead plunked down two boxes of "Shake n' Bake" and promptly walked out of the kitchen. Now, I can't prove it, but I strongly suspect the reasoning for his lightning quick exit had a lot to do with his "survival" instinct kicking into overdrive, and justifiably so. You see, my background in the food industry often times is as much a blessing as it is a curse, and this is all too true, especially when it comes to the aforementioned. Please don't get me wrong, I love a good crispy skin on my chicken, and a tasty, crunchy finish is one of the reasons I bake and roast chicken in the first place. But covering a very healthy protein source with a chemical bath infused with all kinds of sodium, fat and other "unmentionables" is not exactly what I have in mind, especially when I intend to "eat" my finished creation. AND David knows that all too well.  He also knows that in a pinch, when I'm wiped out or pressed for time, I'll break down, give in and go the distance. But only after I've given the boxed coating absolution by adding chopped fresh herbs, garlic, onion, parmesan cheese and a few other "healthy" ingredients. It's my way of incorporating nutritional value, where there was little to start with. Or, I suppose you could say "I'm giving the pre-made stuff the "Sandra Lee" touch......70% machined mutations, 30% man made." In any event, what probably had me the most irritated of all, was the fact that this time I had planned to take pictures, had the camera all set to go, and all for naught. Well, not totally.  At least you've got a picture and a story!