Never Have I Ever

There is a game of sorts going around called Never Have I Ever. The rules seem simple enough, when it is your turn you tell something you have never done. I am unsure of any rule after the telling since I have never played it nor do have I wanted to until today.


The Publix nearest me has a discount rack at the front of the store. It always contains products that are either seasonal and the season has passed of items that very near their "Sell By" dates. The other day I was looking through the products there and saw a lone bag of Ralston whole wheat hot cereal.
(Photo is from the Ralston web site)

                                                                                                       

The only hot cereal other than oatmeal I have ever eater was cream of wheat.  Mom made it for us for breakfast on cold mornings before we walked to school. (Yes, I am old enough to have actually walked to elementary school) The only reason she cooked it is because she liked cream of wheat and she hated (still hates) oatmeal. If she hated it obviously My Beloved Sister an I hated it. You see the logic in that method of thinking, right?

The ironic thing is that both MBS and I liked oatmeal perfectly fine but loathed cream of wheat. So on cold mornings after pushing the cream of wheat around our bowls and gagging eating a few bites we would walk to school with this warm, vile food in our bellies. (To this day I still have no idea how something you ingest contributes to warmth more than a coat and gloves does. I would have been perfectly fine with a slice of toast and a jacket.)

Since the discounted cereal was only 1.12 for the bag I tossed it in my buggy (southernism for shopping cart) and bought it.  I figured is I hated it I could still use it as an ingredient for any recipe that required a filler (like meatloaf).  

This morning (and by morning I mean about 11 when my mouth decided it could tolerate more than coffee)  I was looking for the Cheerios which were gone. The only alternative was Frosted Flakes (uh, no) or the Ralston cereal.  I chose the latter and made a smallish pot of it and to my surprise it was not gross  like cream of wheat. The taste was different and the texture, well, suffice it to say it had texture. I ate it with about a teaspoon of real maple syrup and a splash of milk and it was delicious. If any of you have eaten this before and have alternate serving suggestions, I would love to hear them to give it a try.

And for the sake of playing along, what is your Never Have I Ever