Artichokes in Hong Kong

These babies don't hit the super market shelves. That's right, I called on my foodie friends who import goods to hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong once again...

We have been enjoying this tastes of home all week. 

I like to boil my artichokes in about 4 inches of water with a splash of balsamic, bay leaves and a slice of lemon. I trim the leaves and the tops as well as the bottoms to stand them flat. Remove the little leaves from the bottom before and soak in salty water for about 20 mins. before cooking. Bring water and seasoning to a boil, place the chokes inside the pot and cover-reduce to a simmer and cook until leaves come off easily.  My foodie friends like to grill them and dip in mayo. I like to dip my leaves and heart into a butter and balsamic mix with a sprinkle of salt and lemon juice.  

Trimming each leaf takes a little extra time, 

but I think it is worth it and you don't get pricked as you eat. 

Mardi Gras all the way In Hong Kong

Being PTA President has it perks. Like being able to come up with the theme 

of the World Fair day at my son's school. 

I choose Carnival and it was so much fun. We had a Rio room, a India room, a German room and of course, a Mardi Gras room. Each rooms showed off how that place celebrates carnival. 

I learned a lot about all the different celebrations around the world and I taught a lot of folks  

about how we do it in the Big Easy! 

The World Fair is educational and fun for the kids-here is how we set up the New Orleans Carnival....

Volunteer moms work on building a live oak tree. We ahd facts about live oaks all around the room. 

Shoe box floats will contstucted and painted by volunteer moms!

A bald Cypress was made out of cardbord and some weird materia that looks just like Spanish Moss!

Cyrpess knees and crawfish holes taught the children about the swamps and root systems.

We talked about the difference between alligators and crocodiles.

Fun Mardi Gras facts-like the success of Mardi Gras is measured in trash!

Our parade with history facts below.

The craft table where children made candy necklaces and other crafts. 

Our Swamp!

Fun! 

I am so proud to call New Orleans home 

and I was so proud to teach the children 

and parents all about Mardi Gras.