A German Girl in America- Eating Salami in a Peanut Butter World (2024)

Friedenssaal and the Peace of Westphalia – Münster Germany

Through the Arches, up the front steps, and inside the Historic Rathaus along Münster’s Prinzipalmarkt you’ll find the Friedenssaal, Hall of Peace. The room has remained essentially unchanged for the past 375 years, from the time when envoys across Central Europe arrived to debate and hammer out details for the Treaty of Westphalia and Peace of Münster which ended the…

Travel Accessories for a Trip to Germany- What I Take Along

Seiffen Church- History and a Tour of the Bergkirche Seiffen

A Visit to the Black Forest Open Air Museum, Vogtsbauernhof

Things to do in Erfurt- A Delightful City at the Center of Germany

Wondering where to buy German Food Online? Unfortunately, we don’t all live in a city with a good German Restaurant… and there isn’t a German Deli or German Bakery on every corner. But all is not lost! You can order German food to enjoy at home! Lots of companies sell German Food Online! Almost everything you buy in German Grocery…

German Genealogy Databases Online -Find your German Family

For many German-Americans, tracing their history is not so easy. Records were lost or destroyed, and the old script can be difficult to read.While I am by no means an expert, I have found some German Genealogy Databases online that can help you find a little more about your German Ancestry. If you know of any websites or pages that…

German Festivals in America, Events and Celebrations

Looking for German Festivals in America? Events and Celebrations? Take a look at our list! There’s something for everyone! Maifests, Sommerfests, Oktoberfests, Christkindlmarkt, Concerts, and More!! We also have a special page set aside for Christmas Markets in the United States and Canada–> German Christmas Markets Do you know of any Events or GermaFestival that’s not on the list? Send…

German Restaurants in America- Also Bakeries, Delis and Online Sources

Ever wonder “Are there any German Restaurants near Me?” Readers have kindly sent me the names of their favorite German Restaurants in America, as well as German Bakeries, Delis and Online Sources.It looks like we will all be able to eat Rouladen, Bratwurst, Brötchen and Torte as we make our way across America. And now we’ve even added German…

Where to Buy a Dirndl for German Festivals and Oktoberfests

All Summer and Fall you’ll find German Festivals and Oktoberfests popping up across the United States… and for you lucky travelers… there are plenty of Festivals and Events happening IN Germany! Sure, you can show up in shorts and a t-shirt, but why not get into the spirit of the festival, and wear a Dirndl?! This iconic Bavarian dress…

Where to buy Lederhosen- Authentic Lederhosen for Men and Women

Traditional German Lederhosen -History and Where to Buy

Dirndls from Rare Dirndl – Tradition with Modern Flair

Rhubarb Streusel Cake Recipe with Vanilla Cream- Rhabarbar Streuselkuchen

I love a cake that contains all sorts of flavors and textures. This Rhubarb Streusel Cake Recipe with Vanilla Cream (Rhabarbarkuchen mit Vanillecreme) does just that… the base is simple, with a bit of vanilla, the Vanilla Cream filling is sweet (but not too sweet) and smooth. On top of that, you’ll find over a pound and a half of…

Red Cabbage Salad Recipe – Rotkohlsalat

Warm and comforting Rotkohl or Blaukraut, flavored with cloves, is a fairly standard side dish for so many German dishes, but in the summertime, I crave something cold and crisp. Something for my Salatteller (salad plate). This Red Cabbage Salad Recipe, or Rotkohlsalat, not only tastes delicious, but the jewel-like color of the cabbage looks beautiful on a plate. This…

Reformationsbrötchen Recipe- Luther Rose Reformation Rolls

October 31st, bakeries in Leipzig, bake up a special treat….Reformationsbrötchen or Reformation Rolls. The rolls with five petals and a blob of red jam in the center represent the Luther Rose, the symbol Martin Luther used to sign all of his documents. So what are they exactly? Reformation Rolls are semi-sweet yeast rolls filled with raisins (or cranberries), chopped almonds,…

Pflaumenmus Recipe- How to Make German Plum Butter

My husband followed his nose into the kitchen. “WOW! that smells so good!”. Yesterday the house smelled of cooking fruit, a little spice, and a lot of yumminess. (Move over Pumpkin spice, the smell of Pflaumenmus cooking is amazing!) I love Pflaumenmus. Thick and flavorful, tart with a hint of spice from cloves, and the deep purple color makes it…

Hundreds of purple crocus flowers were making their first appearance when I visited the Münster Botanical Gardens on a chilly March morning. This sign of Springtime lightens hearts in Germany. The sweet blooms signal an end to the grey winter blahs. But these are only half of the story of crocuses in Germany. Although there are a few different…

The Linden tree in Germany – The Tree at the Heart of Germany

What is Maggikraut : All about Liebstöckel or Lovage

Edelweiss! All about this Legendary Alpine Flower

What is a Schrebergarten or Kleingarten? Germany’s Little Gardens

German Language Summer Camps and Programs

Online German Language Classes for Adults- Learn German Online from Anywhere!

How to Apply to German Universities- Resources and Tips for a Successful Application

Is Kindergarten German? Learn all about Kindergarten History!

German Language Schools in America For Kids and Teens

Shopping for German School Supplies in Germany

The General Slocum Disaster of 1904- A German-American Tragedy

1021 people, mostly women and children perished in the General Slocum Disaster of 1904. And yet, the tragedy is mostly forgotten. Kleindeutschland (Little Deutschland) in New York City thrived through the 1800s into the turn of the century. German-Americans lived, worked, shopped, and worshipped in this thriving neighborhood. Then on June 15, 1904, 1358 people climbed aboard the General…

A Visit to the German American Heritage Museum

The German American Heritage Museum may be one of the smaller museums in Washington DC. Still, their efforts to preserve the history of Germans in America make up for its tiny footprint. (Plus I firmly believe that small museums are the best.) Since 2010, the museum has occupied Hockemeyer Hall on 6th Street NW, in the Penn Quarter just a…

Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC

On May 21, 2024, I was honored to represent the Berlin Airlift Remembrance Alliance at the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The event took place in the shadow of the imposing towers of the US Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC The Ambassador of the…

A Visit to the Heurich House Museum in Washington DC

In the early 1940’s, German-American Brewer, Christian Heurich, owned more land and employed more people in Washington DC than any entity other than the Federal Government. An amazing accomplishment for a man who came to the United States from the small village of Haina in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1866 with only $200 in his pocket. His mansion, now…