Just a spoonful of peanut butter and a glass of vino blanco make the medecine go down..

What? You are probably wondering what on earth is this chick on about? I mean, how do those things go together in any way, shape or form?

It's been a good 3 months since I have had raw, straight from the jar, protein pumped spoons of peanut butter. It used to be a popular hunger stopper in Dubai, so you can only imagine when my generally smoke free self and all of the sudden having a few more food craving self, felt when it was impossible to get.

So after a New York Times "Eat your heart out in Trinidad and Tobago in 36 hours" stop, I picked up some necessities that are of course easier to get on a small island in the middle of the Caribbean than in a socialist country in the middle of South America.

To spice up my life, I got about 10 packets of spices from Masala, to Saffron, to Celery Salt and more fun.. For the slight health nut within, some Chocolate Soy Milk and Peanut Butter. For the Thai cook in me, some lime tortilla chips and finally, for the must eat breakfast since it's approximately 6 hours between meals on work days, some gourmet granola bars. It's been nearly 6 years since I felt the restraints of culinary pleasures. After being able to eat essentially whatever I wanted throughout college and then, head off to South Korea where a small block of cheddar hit you $7 usd, I learned quickly, everything you need is often not right here in your hands. Nevertheless, after a myriad of moves getting progressively easier and easier and adoring the fruits and vegetables of tropical Thailand, my hopes for Venezuela's culinary delights have been flushed down the toilet.

I suppose I never realized the importance of cooking in keeping me sane. The things that balance us our inevitably our passions and so, for me, that equals: Running, yoga, some kind of artistic expression (writing, throwing pots, painting or whatever) travel, food and the art of making it, tasting it, buying it and more, and diving into new lessons and researching them and making them absolutely wonderful..

So, tonight, as I sit down at the computer to get it all out, the writing, the frustration, the torment over the lack of quality produce, my simple pleasures seem extravagant requests in the country to which I have returned. So, of course, it's completely rational to have a glass of wine and 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter and consider that an acceptable dinner.

There is some reason I am here. There always is, in the meantime, laugh, pray, smile and explore cause the three you thrived for this year have dwindled to one over the last few months. Maintain what you can and set new goals. Be realistic.

Hearts...