Although Chinese calligraphy is a form of communication, it is also a highly valued art form. Chinese writing is not based on a phonetic alphabet but rather each word in Chinese has a unique symbol. It is a difficult languageRead More →
Ribollita is a Tuscan soup made from beans, vegetables and bread. It was a means to “use up” the vegetables in your garden and stale bread. Basically, any vegetable soup can be used to make ribollita, but a traditional ribollitaRead More →
The Tangram Puzzle is a Chinese game that was created during the Song Dynasty (1127 – 1279 AD). It starts with a square that is dissected into 7 pieces. All Tangrams have the exact same shapes. To play the game,Read More →
Hit the Coin Game is a traditional children’s game in Brazil that requires good aim and some practice! Easy and inexpensive to make, both children and adults will have fun. Although this is usually played outside, we have created aRead More →
Some of the best games require little or no equipment. The Brazilian game Luta de Gallo, which means “fight of the roosters” can be played inside or outside, and requires only 2 willing participants and two bandannas or rags! It’sRead More →
It has been said you cannot have a birthday party in Brazil without a plate of Brigadeiros! These tasty chocolate confections can be found at shops throughout Brazil, yet they are so easy to make that most families also makeRead More →
Feijoada (fay-ZWAH-da) is often considered the national dish of Brazil. It is a thick stew made with black beans and pork or beef. Traditionally, it used pork trimmings like ears, tail and feet. Most recipes today use higher quality piecesRead More →
Lamington cakes are an Australian treasure. They are squares of yellow sponge cake, which often have a layer of jam or cream in the the center. They are then dipped in a chocolate icing and rolled in coconut. Lamingtons are oftenRead More →
When you think about the Amazon Rain Forest, it’s hard not to conjure up visions of snakes. The Amazon is home to anacondas, whip snakes, bushmasters, boas, and coral snakes, just to name a few. Many are venomous, some killRead More →
Carnival of Brazil (Carnaval do Brasil) is the most popular Brazilian festival held between the Friday afternoon (51 days before Easter) and Ash Wednesday at noon, which marks the beginning of Lent. The celebrations vary from town to town, butRead More →
