photo via family, friends and food

My brother and I grew up with Shake 'n Bake, the big Ziploc bag, the glass baking dish coated with Pam spray. The first time I ever saw a naked pork chop it was at a friend's house, and I was at a ridiculously advanced age. I was both amazed and dismayed. Pork chops without a tasty faux breading did not seem real, or possibly edible. Chicken without a seasoned coating did not exist.

It's been years since I've had Shake 'n Bake--at first because I never cooked for myself once I left home, but now because I've actually read the back of the Shake 'n Bake package. Have you seen how much sodium is in that stuff? Enough to set your heart screaming and your blood boiling up, is how much. But there is--as there is, all too often--something about the coated deliciousness, the crispy crunchiness that comes from that easy mix, and I miss it, like the desert misses the rain. There are also--as there often, happily is--an adult, healthy, and insanely tasty-looking alternative to the boxed crap. Check out Family, Friends and Food's panko-breaded chicken breasts. So pretty! So easy! So much better than the shaking and the baking. You can buy panko at just about any grocery store now, and your heart will thanko you for it.