mooncakes...

Mid Autumn festival is celebrated in most of Asia during the eighth lunar month. This year the celebration started on September 27 and lasts a week. Celebrating centers around family gatherings, lanterns and moon cakes.  Moon cakes are given as gifts artfully packaged. There are hundreds of flavors of moon cakes available. Every store, hotel, charity and business offers their own moon cake variety. The classic moon cakes are densely filled with lotus seed paste and an egg yolk in the center. 

This year Heidi and I decided to try new (to us) varieties of moon cakes. Our personal version of 'Americans taste test...' video. The Shangri - La ones are the classic lotus seed paste version. Starbucks offers a boxed set of moon cakes inspired by their popular beverages. Tea WG offers several types of moon cakes, but I purchased the varieties I thought we would like the best.

Shangri La lotus seed with egg yolk. Starbucks salted carmel mochi and chocolate. Tea WG mixed nuts in lotus seed paste.  Starbucks espresso and almond. Starbucks green tea mocha and red bean paste. Tea WG black sesame. Starbucks hojicha tea and osamantus. (clockwise)  

 We added just the right Hong Kong accessories for our moon cake tasting. 

I assumed I would like the Starbucks ones the best. Heidi was quite fond of the green tea and red bean paste moon cake. As did the hubby.  In their defense red bean paste does contain sugar. But on the flip side none of us liked the hojicha tea and osmanthus one. It tasted like how walking past someone wearing too much perfume smells. 

 But really it was the Tea WG black sesame that I loved.

Moon cakes are densely packed so you really don't want a whole one. A small sliver will do you. And they are best paired with a strong tea or coffee. We brewed a pot of Tea WG to wash down our moon cake selection. Hope everyone had a great Mid Autumn festival. Wishing everyone much happiness and bliss. 

xox, 

Christine

photos by Heidi 

show and tell...

Sometimes she stops me dead in my tracks. So much to ask. What happens at the top? 

Somehow again I pulled off another American holiday here in Hong Kong. These are the times I wish we had a Target, but I suppose that'd be cheating. Just one of the many ways Hong Kong is different than home. I wrote a ditty for Live Sigma Kappa last week detailing how our Hong Kong homes are different than the states. Including some great pictures by Heidi Selch as well. Here's some more from last week while I'm sharing...

*Have you tried dry shampoo? With my thick hair I don't know how I ever lived without it. I just found a couple recipes for diy dry shampoo on pinterest. Have you tried one of these recipes? I'm about to mix this one up tonight. 

* We have finally taken the plunge and tried to go gluten free as a family. We have suspected for awhile that one of the children had issues with wheat. But trying the elimination diet has pretty much solidified it. So this Easter I baked gluten free sugar cookies. Easy and delish!

* Are you good at selfies? Neither am I. Those eyebrows past due? Bad hair day? I'm trying Elle's tips. Every little bit helps. 

* Hong Kong's history's phenomenal. During the 'Great Leap Forward' in the early sixties, many Mainland Chinese immigrated to Hong Kong.  See it here with newly restored video. 

Well, lovelies, I have a full docket this week as soon as the kiddos head back to school. Hope I get it all done. Here's to Mondays!

xox, 

c

that's my girl...

one of our new neighbors and friends are also from the states. not that there are alot of us americans here in this area of hong kong. the children go to the same school. not a small feat here in hong kong. unlike in the states not everyone goes to the same school in the same neighborhood.  added bonus she is also a photographer. a couple of weeks ago heidi asked if she could borrow stella to play around with some backgrounds. of course, we said yes. here are some of her fabulous shots.

heidi takes great photos and stella really enjoyed all the attention. i'm sure it won't be the last time stella's in front of her camera. i'm thinking christmas cards. maybe a new headshot. check out her website and blog here.

xox...
c