In keeping with the frequent botanical theme that appears here, and because it is that time of year when Jews eat a “New Fruit”, I will post about when I bought a Chayote in that capacity in lieu of a pomegranate, star fruit, persimmon, etc.
No one in the farmers’ market was able to answer my question as to how to tell if the chayote was ripe (my fault I suppose, for not being able to communicate fluently in Cantonese or Spanish or Pantomime) so I took it home, placed it on the dining room table, and waited for it to look ripe.
At first, the Chayote bore an uncanny resemblance to Commander Toad (© Jane Yolen) with his cheerful toothless smile and smooth green complexion. Even more so after we added the raisin eyes (for a sweet new year, and all that.) So of course we named it “Commander Toad”.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4722/1763/400/commander%20toad1.jpg)
Some time passed. Commander Toad‘s smug look started to look a little discourteous. We couldn’t tell if he was licking his lips or trying to make a rude noise.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4722/1763/400/commander%20toad2.jpg)
Later. Were those wrinkles and age spots an indication that he was finally becoming ripe? Actually, it was moot at this point. We could no longer eat him anyway - he felt like a member of the family by now. Really, there was no reason at all for him to stick his tongue out at us.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4722/1763/400/commander%20toad3.jpg)
Eventually the Commander became quite elderly and spent most of his time gumming asparagus and complaining about his children.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4722/1763/400/commander%20toad4.jpg)
I think we had to make do with a Carambola that year.
According to wikipedia, Commander FroG was ready to eat immediatly, and would have tasted "bland" with a "texture described as a cross between a potato and a cucumber". Sounds Delish
ReplyDeleteThat is highly entertaining on many levels. And so creative! :)
ReplyDelete