The other day I bought a small whole chicken for 3.64. I wanted to make chicken soup. First I removed the breasts and wings and drumsticks (not expertly as this is a skill I do not possess)
Put rest in a kettle with seasonings, onion, celery. Cooked it.
I wanted to oven bake the breasts etc, but not make a big breading deal out of it. So shook the chicken pieces with just some Panko. Put it in my pan that had been heating with some of the mixture I use (oil, butter, bacon fat. . . very small amts. . .less than 1t each) baked at 400º because I also made corn muffins.
The chicken (45 minutes) was delicious. But I must say that everything tastes better now that I am dieting. Whether it is the no-sugar or just more hungry don't really know.
I've found that once you go down the better eating road for a while, your tastebuds wake up and your ability to taste food flavors is heightened. For me, this is especially true when I'm eating raw veggies or fresh fruit.
True to all you are discvoering. It takes a while - but finally, fruit does taste as good - if not better - than candy. (Except chocolate of course . . . . no replacement . . . . but in very small quantities just occasionally. . . .)