Travel
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…
German Food and Events
Where to Buy German Food Online -German Bread, Sausage, Groceries & More
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…
Traditional German Clothing
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…
German Recipes
Make Candied Citrus Peel for Baking
A few years ago I ran into a roadblock when starting my Christmas baking. For years my regular grocery store sold candied citrus peel all packed up and ready for me to use in Stollen, Lebkuchen, and Magenbrot. No more. The grocer told me that demand dropped over the years (and then he mumbled something about Fruitcake being yucky… I…
Juicy Apple Cake – Saftiger Apfelkuchen LOADED with Apple
Yes, you do need another Apple Cake Recipe, and this rustic and Juicy Apple Cake is perfect for apple lovers (and moms who want to encourage their people to eat more fruit). Chunks of juicy apple keep the cake extra moist, and the crunchy cinnamon sugar topping adds sweetness. The cake looks a bit rustic, but the flavor will…
Chocolate and Dark Beer Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
I know, I know… Chocolate and Dark Beer Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream are not STRICTLY German. (Or really, traditional German at all) BUT! They are tasty. And since I used a dark Erdinger Weissbier German Beer, these delicious treats count as Denglish. The recipe comes from one I used to bake for Irish friends using Stout beer (Guinness). I find…
Herrencreme Recipe a “Gentleman’s” Pudding from the Münsterland
My childhood memory of Herrencreme is Oma making it as a special Sunday Nachtisch for Opa… and me getting Chocolate Pudding. Herrencreme or Gentleman’s Pudding is made with dark chocolate shavings and a generous amount of rum and therefore might be too “bitter” for children. (I don’t think Oma considered the rum inappropriate, she did give us Eierlikör on the…
In the Garden
Crocuses in Germany- Spring Beauty & Autumn Saffron Crocus
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…
German School
German History
Exploring German Heritage in Massachusetts
When you think of Massachusetts, the first thing that might come to mind is the rich tapestry of American history that’s woven into its cities and towns. But did you know that there’s also a strong German influence that’s left an indelible mark on its historical sites? From architecture to cuisine, German immigrants have greatly influenced the Bay State. They’ve left…
Anaheim’s German History- A German Home by the Santa Ana River
Most people don’t think about German-American history when they think about Southern California. Pennsylvania, of course, Wisconsin, naturally, but California? YES! Anaheim’s German History is a great story. The city of Anaheim began as a colony of Germans! (Yes, Anaheim, home to the House of Mouse). In 1857, 50 Germans, formed an association called the Los Angeles Vineyard Company and…
A Visit to Ellis Island- Ellis Island Immigrants from Germany
A few years ago I visited the Bremerhaven Auswandererhaus (Emigration Museum), this year I paid a visit to Ellis Island, where many of the immigrants landed on the other side of the Atlantic. The museum houses the other half of the immigration story. I went, unsure of how much German history I would see, after all, Ellis Island acted as…
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…