Excuse me, in which aisle can I find "whatever"?

Yes, I really am trying to find the "whatever" my family keeps telling me to serve. It has to exist and I want to buy it, take it home and be able to fix it for lunch or dinner. Let me be clearer, I want to find their (DH and teen's) idea of "whatever". Whenever I fix my idea of "whatever" I end up with too many leftovers. That does give me something for lunch for several days, but sometimes a change would be nice. I have resorted to sharing the extras with three overworked friends who don't have time to cook. Sometimes I feel I shouldn't just in case my "whatever leftovers" aren't as good as I think they are. Although, my friends always thank me and return my containers neatly cleaned. The two busiest friends brought back extra containers last time. An oversight on their part, I'm sure. Good thing their names were clearly written on them so I can return them. Hope they don't mind if I throw in some focaccia and herbed cheese spread when I do. I don't need the extra calories and the guys didn't like either recipe.

Now, once before I did ask this same question on the Recipe Exchange. Got some great answers too, but I have decided to revisit this topic to share with the others also trying to serve "whatever". For those that don't mind being told to fix "whatever" because it allows them free reign of meal preparation and those whose families know better than to give that response because they might get a peanut butter sandwich with a glare, I commend you. I really, really do. Either those you fix meals for are easy to please and willing to try new things or early and proper training of the family has circumvented the problem. One that I now seem to face on a daily basis. Am I on a rant or a weep about my culinary dilemma? Nope. I want to share with others facing similar meal procurement issues my 2 plans to find and fix "whatever". Mind you, these plans were conceived while working long hot hours in the gardens. Yes, that is plural on the gardens. After being sunburned, stung by sweat bees, stabbed by stinging nettles while weeding, moving 15 yards of mulch, pulling a muscle during mulch moving, seeing a snake pop up 3 inches in the water garden 1" from my submerged hand, adding a new memorial garden for our sadly and suddenly deceased dog, and lastly the surprisingly painful total toe tip sanding with a large hidden pumice stone while staking up some stupid Shasta daisies, I came up with these plans I will now share.


Ok, so the first plan was executed during the middle of all my fun in the sun so its failure shouldn't have been unexpected. However, it might actually work for someone else. So I thought I should still share it anyway. I fearlessly took them (DH and teen) with me to the grocery store so they could show me the somethings they think is "whatever". I told them what I was putting in the cart and asked them to please add whichever items of their choosing to it. Surely, I could find recipes on AR utilizing our combined choices. Alas, I must report they got stuck between aisle's "I don't know" and "I don't care". This resulted in no selections being made on their part. I suspect taking both of them may have been my downfall, but someone else might be able to tweak this plan into functioning form.


Ah, here we are at my second plan. I feel it might have better success even though the concept came at day's end while surveying my laborious landscaping accomplishments. At that moment while sitting in the shade with my teen, the idea sprang forth. DIVIDE AND CONQUER!!!! Ha!! Brilliant!!!! The teen's father will soon be working long and odd hours negating the need to fix his lunch or dinner. I will give the teen the golden opportunity to fix his own meals!!!! Perhaps the heat was putting me in a daze, but I decided this simple plan might have a chance. With only one palate to please how could this idea go wrong!? So as to not let the child know of my scheming supper idea, I gently prodded and pried into his preferred palate pleasers. Here are my gleefully gleaned findings; asparagus, bacon, catfish, Mom's baked spicy hot wings, onions raw or cooked, spinach, pepperjack cheese and pepperoni are LIKES. He is sure he hates everything else. Evidently, despite my best efforts, his taste buds have decided to give a whole new meaning to picky and my Mother's earliest wish for me to have a child just like me has finally come true! At least there are ingredients to work with here and this might just be fun. Odd, I thought I just heard laughter! I apologize for not waiting for a successful report before posting the blog, but I'm too excited. The teen did try and like the Fusion Confusion cheesecake stuffed grape leaf served on a homemade graham cracker drizzled with a red wine and homemade grape jelly sauce (that's his hand in the picture on his 3rd piece, I'm yelling wait let me get this photo!). So there is hope for him to expand his palate. And in my favor, I have the full array of AR in my food fixing arsenal. Plus, the teen will be leaving for college next year and this might be my last chance for quality kitchen time with him. Till next time, wish me luck and may all of you have happy cooking times too!!!!


Thought I'd drop in my "guideline/recipe" for hot & spicy baked wings. I know we will have them while DH is gone since he won't eat anything that isn't boneless. Plus, a few garden photos for something to look at!


Cat's Baked Hot Wings Version #5 or 6


Rinse and drain 2 pkgs(I do 2 since I'm going to the trouble and this is a treat for us) chicken wings- seperate wing and drumstick (save the tips to make broth).


Use a fork to pierce the skin, this seems to get the spice in better.


Place in a large plastic bowl with good sealing lid.


Using your favorite hot sauce-coat chicken pieces. I usually use Tabasco or Louisiana brand, whichever happens is on sale.


We like them hot and spicy so I add liberal amounts of red pepper flakes, fresh ground black pepper and a little kosher salt to the hot sauce.


Cover with lid and shake to coat pieces well. Put in the refrigerator to marinate. I leave mine in the fridge at least 2 days and shake them around daily to make sure all pieces are well coated.


When ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 and bake 25 to 35 minutes depending on size of pieces. I also bake mine on a rack to insure maximum crunch. It's a shame wings are so expensive now cause the teen literally inhales these.