Vacation Ideas and Chayote squash

like my lighting! all on a warm tortilla! its my version of the McDonalds apple pie!

I was recently indulging in my afternoon npr on the way home (I forget from where but probably the gym or something) and they were discussing Michelle Obama’s recent vacation to Spain with you daughter, Sasha (they never said anything about the other daughter, Malia so I’m guessing she’s grounded or something). Anyhow, the vacation was obviously not cheap and the American government paid for it, hence it sparked a lot of criticism.  Honestly, I cant really formulate a cohesive opinion because on one hand, the Obamas are wealthy and wealthy people have even more lavish vacations. For example, a lot of rich people and celebrities go to Abu Dhabi. That city has literally the most luxurious hotels on the entire planet! Built to provide the absolute finest in everything the world has to offer, your 4000 square foot room is adorned with gold, marble, crystal, and we can only assume the finest whores available in some kind of vending machine contraption. So compared to where P.Diddy vacations, I guess the Spain holiday is modest. I also think she deserves a vacation of some form. I’m sure its tiring shaking billions of hands (not a good thing if your OCD), visiting all these military bases, and lets not forget, keeping you biceps well toned so that “Obama Arms” wont be an extinct phrase.  But on the other hand, I think this would be a good chance to take her daughter to do volunteer work abroad. She can go to the countries not yet conquered by Madonna or Angelina.  I also feel a bit uneasy that tax money is being used. However, I did learn after some research that she paid for her personal expenses and that most of the tax paying money went to buffing up security. And lets face it, she’s a hot item for terrorists and white supremacist groups (and maybe Sarah Palin?), so her safety is pretty important.

But this brings me to the real gist of my post…..I NEED A VACATION! Thing is, work is slow now cause its summer (so I dont teach my after school cooking classes) so if there is anytime for me to go some where it would be sometime soon. And no, I dont want a “staycation”. I would like to be taken out of my element and out of my city. So here’s what I’m gonna ask of you lovely readers….I’d like to take suggestions for where I should go and preferably, I’d like to know why I should visit YOUR city. Its nice for you to suggest “Paris” but I would like to hear why your city is fabulous and worthy of me vacationing there (unless, of course, you happen to live in Paris). The added perk, a possible blogger meet up! And I’ll probably have to go at this vacation all by lonesome self, so keep that in mind. So maybe this is like a contest, your prize is that if I choose your city, you could meet me, although I assure you, that’s not a very enticing prize and I can’t promise to be entertaining…….

Now for some food:

I dont know if your familiar with the chayote squash, but if your not let me introduce you to it!

Chayote, meet my readers!

looks like a butt cheek, no?

It’s also known as the “vegetable pear”, I’m assuming because it looks like a pear. I also heard a rumor that its the secret ingredient in the McDonald’s apple pie, but I doubt it cause these aren’t that abundant. Anyhow, I prepared it like an apple! I peeled it and cut it in half. Then I sprinkled:

-cinnamon

-vanilla extract

Thats it! I didn’t even think it needed sugar, but if you like sweet, go ahead and add sweetener of choice. I baked it a 400 degrees for 35 min (a while!). I had it with a tortilla mixed with more cinnamon and some greek yogurt.