Bena Mae’s Kitchen: The Waiting Room

I sat in the cold sterile waiting room at the medical center trying to transpose my thoughts to a happier place. I was surrounded by several other ladies, who, like myself, were clad in loose shapeless gowns. We were all of one mind: What would the monster machine inside the X-ray Room reveal? The scene was almost surreal, we all had the same look on our face, like an old black and white horror movie.
 The nurse had brought me a large container of horrible chalk-like liquid to drink before I was to take the sonogram. Immediately, my gag reflexes went into overdrive. How was I going to get it all down? I decided to make it a game; three gulps, then rest awhile, then three more gulps, rest some more. At this rate it was going to take all afternoon. And I was getting sicker by the minute.
Desperate for a diversion, I went to the magazine rack to see if I could find some kind of reading material to occupy my mind. The selection was a disappointment…Field and Stream, Car and Driver, Motor Week, Nascar…who subscribes to this stuff? No Bon Appetit or O-Magazine in the whole bunch. (Note for doctors’ offices, update your reading material, please!)
 The TV that was hanging on the wall was no help at all. It was set on the business channel. What was happening on Wall Street was the furthest thing from my mind. So I settled on counting the squares of blue and white tiles on the floor. And gulped some more of the tasteless brew from hell. I failed to drink it all before they came and got me and took me to ‘The Room.’
They laid me on a table with a large donut-shaped machine hanging over my body. Now I am claustrophobic and can’t stand anything close to my face. So I began praying that I wouldn’t hyperventilate. Then the machine started moving over my body. BREATHE, a deep automated voice from somewhere said. DON’T BREATHE, the voice said as the machine moved downward. I was trying to obey its orders but kept running out of breath.
I looked for Boris Karloff to stand over me any minute.
This went on for an in interminable period and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief when I was told I was free to go.
I don’t know the definition Wikipedia has for waiting rooms, but I have my own: Purgatory!

P.S.  This is one in a series of ‘Beating the Odds.’ With your kind approval, I will keep you updated.

Spicy Chicken Mexacali Salad

1/3 cup SHAKE ‘N BAKE Hot & Spicy Seasoned Coating Mix
4 small  boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.), cut lengthwise in half
1 pkg. (10 oz.) torn mixed salad greens
1 can  (7 oz.) corn, drained
1 cup rinsed canned black beans
1/2 cup  KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing
HEAT oven to 400°F.
MEASURE coating mix into shaker bag. Shake chicken as directed on package. Bake in foil-lined pan 20 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF).
MEANWHILE, toss greens with corn and beans in large bowl.
TOP salad with chicken, cheese and dressing.