Category Archives: READ

Friday Food News

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Sweet friends! We’ve made it through the week! How are you celebrating?

We are taking advantage of the long weekend and heading up to DC to spend time with some friends from Munich. One of those friends has joined the Peace Corps and is leaving in couple weeks to go to Azerbaijan for two years. Have I mentioned that she rocks? We are so grateful for the opportunity to see her before she heads off.

If you’re taking it easy this weekend and in the mood for reading, here are some things I’ve seen around the web lately. Have a good weekend!

Food News from Kiwi and PeachDooley ‘helping’ me shoot the Sweet Potato Bisque.

You might want to grab a cup a tea and take some time with this one. A critique of Perlmutter’s Grain Brain hypothesis:
“When a person advocates radical change on the order of eliminating one of the three macronutrient groups from our diets, the burden of proof should be enormous.” {james hamblin for the atlantic}

Have you been to an Aldi? A funny read about the German grocery experience. Now, if only they imported the beer too. {slate}

Our goal for the new year is to incorporate fish into our weekly meal plans, but I’m a fish novice. These killer recipes look doable and delicious. {the kitchn}

Michael Pollan and some other good folks are doing a fascinating lecture series. You can watch the lectures online, but you do have to reserve a spot. {edible schoolyard}

The Kiwi deems the microwave a must, so it’s interesting to see how this family is making do without. {the kitchn}

I’m on the hunt for a functional and affordable kitchen cart. I’m loving what Kristen did with this plain-Jane Ikea cart. {the hunted interior}

Now that I can get my hands on some kale, I can’t wait to try this recipe. I also second her feelings on the kale fad. It’s a dark leafy green. It’s incredibly good for you. There are worse fads. {a house in the hills}

Great advice for what to look for in a recipe to know if it’s a good one—because no one has time for duds. {dinner a love story}

Lemon bars are my favorite. {joy the baker}

This lettering. That hunker down banner. I die. {mary kate mcdevitt}

Speaking of lettering…have you checked out our new PRINT page yet? We now have free printables of some of my hand lettered art prints! There is nothing like instant art to freshen up your home, am I right? So head over and start downloading. {If you do, shoot me a tweet or instagram of what you did with it. I’d love to see it in action!}

Grow.

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Hello. Is this thing on?

I hope you all had a fantastic break for the holidays—full of  good food and quality time with the folks you love. I know that we sure did. Just after the Christmas festivities were winding down, we packed up the U-Haul and made the move to Asheville. We’re just about settled in to the new home and are having so much fun exploring Asheville and getting to know our new town.

2013 was the year of travel, rolling with the punches, and figuring things out. 2014 is going to be the year of putting down roots and growing, blooming. {While still rolling with the punches because, let’s be real, there will always be some punches.}

As the mess from the move settles down, I’m looking forward to getting back in the blogging swing for the new year. This is going to be a big year of growth for Kiwi+Peach and we are pretty pumped about the things we have planned for the year. Sharing tried and true recipes and talking about food will always be our main focus, but we’re branching out a bit. We are going to dive a little deeper into the science behind the food we eat, and we will be sharing our monthly meal planning calendar. I’ll be doing more calligraphy and dabbling in a bit of graphic design to share my original artwork with y’all. We are also going to be sharing some of the things we’ve done/are doing to create a home that is beautiful, efficient, and eco-friendly.

My goal, the whole reason I write, is to share experiences. I always want to be producing something of value for you, so I strive for the tips, tricks, inspiration, and knowledge we share about how we do life to be stuff that you could actually use. Hearing about your experiences makes my freaking day y’all. I want to start a conversation, to connect. I want to hear about your experiences your thoughts, feelings, smart remarks. That way, we grow together.

I recently saw a thing circulating round the web about picking one word for the year. It’s not so much a resolution as just an encompassing word to strive for and meditate on for the coming year that will help you focus {or re-focus} and reach your goals. So much better than a list of resolutions, I thought, so I bit.

My word for the year is…

Grow: Lettering by Kiwi and Peach

We’ve planted ourselves here, so now its time to grow.

It’s time to grow; personally, professionally, in our relationships, this blog, and quite literally, a garden.

Growth doesn’t happen on its own. It takes intentional, focused effort. It takes trying new things, even if they’re scary. It takes risk and putting ourselves out there, even if it means being a little vulnerable. It takes research and constant learning to develop new skills, even if it takes a little trial and error. It takes a lot of hard work, but it will be so worth it.

What about you? What’s your word for the year? Don’t have a word? Then what is that you are striving for this year? How can we help each other keep our eye on the prize?

Fan of the ‘Grow’ image?

First of all, thank you! I made it m’self, hand lettering and all. Second of all, you’re in luck because it is available for free on our brand spanking new PRINT page, or you can click here to open the printable {and downloadable} pdf. Print it out, pop it in a simple frame, and you have a piece of inspirational artwork for your home that reminds you to keep growing.

Kiwi+Peach on The Green Life

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Hey guys. We are still on our mini-holiday break while we get everything thing sorted and settled with the big move, but I couldn’t resist popping in today and sharing some awesome-sauce news.

If you head over to The Sierra Club’s blog The Green Life, you’re going to see a recipe for Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili from yours truly featured on their article 3 Hot Soups for National Soup Month. The other two look d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s as well! So head on over, give them some love, make a big pot of that chili, and STAY WARM!

I’ll be getting back into the swing of things on here next Monday. In the meantime though, I’m going to go build a cart for my kitchen. Cheers.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili from Kiwi and Peach

Auf Wiedersehen 2013

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Man, what a year it’s been?! As we struggled to stay awake to ring in 2013 in a little cottage in Wanaka, New Zealand, we had no idea just what was in store for us this year.

{wanderlust: mt. aspiring national park, new zealand} from kiwi and peach

This blog that was only a little twinkle in my eye, it would become my full time job.

The year and a half we thought we had left in Munich, it would become just nine months.

Those places on Must-See-Before-We-Leave-Europe list. Well, they were going to have to be seen, weren’t they?

{wanderlust: istanbul, turkey} from kiwi and peach

{wanderlust: dubrovnik, croatia} from kiwi and peach

{wanderlust: berlin, germany} from kiwi and peach

{wanderlust: budapest, hungary} from kiwi and peach

{wanderlust: florence, italy} from kiwi and peach

Kiwi and Peach {wanderlust: sahara desert}

Kiwi and Peach {wanderlust: Paris}

{wanderlust: hong kong} from kiwi and peach

5 continents,

12 countries,

and one transatlantic move later…

We will be welcoming 2014 in our new town—the town where we plan to settle down and be a while.

This year, we put down roots.

Kiwi and Peach | Meet Dooley

Will 2014 be an easier year than 2013? Probably not.

Growth {individually, as a family, and professionally}, consistent learning and navigating new experiences are rarely easy but as we’ve found, almost always worth the trouble.

So here’s to a year of finding joy in hard work, of dreaming big and accomplishing goals.

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art—write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” -Neil Gaiman

A Gift Guide For the Home Cook from Kiwi and Peach

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Oh. holidays.

Despite life being seriously bonkers right now, I wanted to stop by for a little chat. What’s new with you?

We have a house! It was touch an go there for a bit {a month}, but after an impromptu trip to Asheville, losing the most perfect house, and then finding our wonderful bungalow right in West Asheville, we officially have somewhere to call home. I am completely aware that this is a food blog not a design blog, but you’ll just have to indulge a few of the home posts that are going to be coming up next month. {Or not, but I’ll be posting them regardless.}

We are staying with my folks through Christmas—making up for lost family time the past two years. We are spending the weekend working on projects for the new house, wrapping gifts, and making lots of Christmas goodies. I’ll pop back in before Christmas to share one or two of those with y’all, but until then you can be dreaming of date ball cookies and delicious, buttery dutch apple cake.

Christmas is drawing closer and wish lists for the folks on my shopping list are seemingly nonexistent. What does one buy for the cousin you haven’t seen in two plus years that has no obvious hobbies and an aversion to alcohol? {Seriously, what?}

While I might not be able to solve my own gift dilemmas, I certainly can help you out with yours. I spend a ridiculous amount of time daydreaming about kitchen gadgets, pots and pans, etc. There are some beautiful, practical, and lovely things out there that might just be the perfect gift for the cook in your life. Most folks already have their basics, but I assure you everyone also has their ‘nice to have’ list. You know, the pretty stuff that they might not buy in their own, but you would be champion of the day if you got it for them. It’s all under $30 and any of it would be a sure fire hit in the Kiwi+Peach household. Here does.

A Gift Guide For the Home Cook in you Life from Kiwi and Peach

A Gift Guide For the Home Cook in you Life from Kiwi and Peach

1. Tupelo Honey Cafe{$29}
Love Southern food with a twist? Love farm-to-table? Love beautiful photography? If you only buy one cookbook, get this one. It’s hands-down my favorite cookbook of all time. Full of practical recipes that you can and will actually make at home, it’s a staple in our house.

2. Squirrel nut cracker from Target {$14}
Seriously, just look at it. It doesn’t get much cuter than that, right? While it might not be the most practical of nutcrackers, it will certainly look cute on their counter.

3. Copper measuring spoons from West Elm Market {still available in stores, $16}
These would make me smile every time I used them. Classy and a little fancy with some precious typography, they would be the perfect thing for all this Christmas baking!

4. Stoneware egg crate and fruit basket from Anthropologie {$12, $20}
The perfect things to store your farmers’ market finds in.

5. Goat tote from West Elm {$18}
This bag cracked me up. Perfect for toting groceries and your farmers’ market haul.

6. Farm Anatomy by Julia Rothman {$14}
This beautifully illustrated paperback is full of informative diagrams of anything you ever wanted to know about farms and farm animals. It’s certainly on my list.

{This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. That means that if you head over to Amazon from the link and choose to buy the book, a tiny bit of the money you spent on the book will come back to me for the referral.} 

Meet Dooley + Sweet Potato, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pizza

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We have a little addition to the Kiwi+Peach family. Meet Dooley.

She is five years old and likes long runs, chasing tennis balls, staring at you while you eat, cuddling and popcorn.

Kiwi and Peach | Meet Dooley

While she certainly isn’t a new addition, she hasn’t been living with us for about two years. For lots of logistical reasons, Dooley living in Germany was not going to work out. My sweet, sweet parents volunteered to look after her while we were away, but now that we are back, she will obviously be coming with us to Asheville.

I mean, I’ll try not to turn into a crazy dog lady, but seriously, look at that face. No promises.

Kiwi and Peach | Meet Dooley

So, so lucky to get to be her human. It’s safe to say she’s going to be a regular around here.

You know what else is going to be a regular around here, this pizza. {see what I did there}

A couple weeks ago I was trying to use up the last of food and clean out the pantry when inspiration hit in the form of pizza. As soon as it starts getting the least bit cold, I put sweet potatoes on just about everything. Why not pizza?

Sweet Potato, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pizza from Kiwi and Peach

Sweet Potato, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pizza + Roasted Red Pepper, Hazelnut, and Fig Pesto

The Potatoes
1 sweet potato
drizzle of olive oil
salt and pepper

The Basics
1 batch of whole wheat pizza dough
1 batch of pesto {recipe below}

The Toppings
1 cup of spinach, packed
5 oz goat cheese
drizzle of maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C.

Wash your potato and dry it well. Slice it into rounds about the width of you pinky finger, about a 1/4 of an inch think. Lay them flat on a baking sheet, brush both sides with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and a bit of pepper. Pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes. When they are finished transfer them to a bowl and set them to the side.

Once you put the potatoes in, proof the yeast for your pizza dough and set it to the side. When the proof is done, go ahead and finish the dough. By the time you’re finished mixing that up the potatoes will be finished. Take them out of the oven and turn the heat off. Leave the door of the oven open so the oven can cool down a bit.

Put the pizza dough in a well greased skillet and pop it in the oven to rise for about 15 minutes.

While the dough is rising, whip up that pesto.

Roasted Red Pepper Pesto with Hazelnut and Figs from Kiwi and Peach

Roasted Red Pepper, Hazelnut, and Fig Pesto

makes about 1 cup

1/2 of a roasted red pepper
2 tsp tomato paste
1/4 cup hazelnuts
1 clove of garlic
3 dried figs, stems cut and quartered
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp olive oil

In a food processor, combine all of your pesto ingredients except the olive oil. Give it a whirl and then start slowly adding the olive oil as the machine is running. When you get it to a consistency you like, you’re done!

{Quick note about the pesto. The freshness of the hazelnuts you use have a huge effect on the taste. Some hazelnuts, usually ones meant for baking tend to taste slightly stale when eaten fresh. Once baked, that stale aftertaste disappears and it is delicious, so using not-so-fresh hazelnuts is okay for the pizza since you’ll be baking it. However, if you wanted to use this same pesto on say a crostini, or as a pasta sauce, you’re going to want to use fresher hazelnuts to avoid that unpleasant, stale aftertaste.}

When the dough is finished rising, transfer it to the baking sheet. Crank the oven back up to 400°F/200°C.

Roll the dough out to the size you’d like your pizza. Leaving space around the edge for a crust, slather the dough with an even layer of pesto then layer up the spinach, sweet potatoes, and finally the goat cheese. Drizzle a bit of maple syrup over the whole thing and pop it back in the oven for 20 minutes to bake the crust and melt that delicious, delicious cheese. Enjoy y’all!

Sweet Potato, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pizza from Kiwi and Peach

Sweet Potato, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pizza from Kiwi and Peach

Servus München + I’m Going Back Home: Nina Simone

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This was supposed to post yesterday. Oops. Somewhere in the middle of getting up at the crack of dawn, getting on a plane, an 11 hour flight, and then getting to see our friends and family for the first time in a a year and a half that obviously that didn’t happen. So just pretend like it’s still yesterday. Okay? Thanks.

Our last day Munich has arrived. This past Saturday we officially handed over our wonderful apartment that has been the best first home we could have asked for. Today, we get on a plane.

Christmas time in Germany is magical. Twinkling lights on the streets, the smell of glühwein everywhere you go, and the lebkuchen, oh the lebkuchen. We just couldn’t miss this season completely. We didn’t have to be in the States quite yet, so we stayed and said goodbye to Munich properly.

There were coffee and dinner dates with friends that filled our hearts, trips to Christmas markets and cups of glühwein that filled our tummies, and most of all, moments when we took a look around and thanked our lucky stars we got to call this place home for the past two years.

We are so very loved. Thank you so much to everyone that made our time in Munich so incredibly special. We will miss you tons and you’ll always have a place to rest your head if you’re ever in Asheville.

But for now…

Food News {monday}

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Happy Monday folks! How was your weekend? We had a little get together at our place to say bye to our friends. The next week or so is going to be crazy with the movers coming and us preparing to hand back over the apartment, so we wanted to take advantage of our one calm weekend and spend it with some of the coolest and funniest folks we know in Munich. We sure are going to miss you guys!

And you know what we did on Sunday? We rested. It was magical.

Sweet, sweet rest–it had been far too long since we hung out.

I was finally able to catch up on my reading and found some articles, recipes, and goodies that I just couldn’t wait to share.

Camel Trekking in the Sahara from Kiwi and Peachcamel trekking in the Sahara
{photo credit: the kiwi}

{read}

“You cannot sustain good health on fake food.” Fascinating insight from an ex-chef about feeding your family good food on a strict budget. {eatocracy}

This has nothing to do with food, but wow–what a beautiful tribute to their love. {rolling stone}

For all the folks who have asked what grits are… here is a great fact sheet covering your basic corn. {food52}

The good, the bad, and the ugly of each state’s ‘signature’ dish. Hilarious read. {deadspin}

We aren’t dairy-free, but I do have to be careful. Here are some great tips if you have to pay attention to your dairy consumption. {the stone soup}

The history of popcorn and how we came to associate it with the movies. {smithsonian}

{make}

We have some brussels just asking to be made into this. {in the little red house}

My next soup experiment + some great info about my favorite veggie, the sweet potato. {in the little red house}

{love}

These guys can peel a whole head of garlic in less than 10. Color me impressed. {the kitchn}

Cheesecloth angst? Such a handy list of reusable alternatives. {the kitchn}

I mentioned this a couple weeks ago, but Seven Handle Circus has 3 days left to fund their new album. Head over and see what you think. {kickstarter}

Jenny’s calligraphy shop makes me a little weak at the knees. {jenny highsmith calligraphy}

Sweet {Home} Asheville

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I had a recipe to share with y’all today. I promise, I did.

But today is a really big day for us, and I just don’t think that a recipe for a perfect party appetizer, as delicious as it may be, really documents the importance of the day. I’ll share the recipe tomorrow.

Today, we have some big news.

Real big. Huge.

Kiwi and Peach: Sweet {HOME} Asheville

The Kiwi and I are moving to Asheville, North Carolina!

Today, the Kiwi had his interview at the consulate, and his work visa has been approved. It’s official–we’re coming America!

I am feeling all the feelings. As Oktoberfest wound down, I found myself a bit weepy that this was the last time we would experience it as locals. On that trip to the Alps that I so cryptically wrote about a couple weeks ago, my heart actually hurt that it would be my last time there for a long while. As we’re going through the insurance inventory for our moving company and putting a value on all of the things we’ve picked up from our travels, I find that priceless isn’t an option but that is what this stuff is. {Reality check: they are things, I know this, but they are also memories, very precious memories.}

But enough about my being an emotional mess. That is to be expected. Germany has been our home for the past two years. This is where we met, where we grew, where we fell in love, where we dealt with challenges neither of us thought we’d ever have to face. It’s where we became a team, a family. Munich has been the backdrop for all of this and will always have an incredibly special place in our hearts. But we always knew that Munich was not going to be forever.

For one, I cannot work in my field in Germany. I’ve spent the last two years gaining hands-on experience that, without a doubt, make me a better Family and Consumer Science teacher, but I can’t actually teach Family and Consumer Science here and I want to teach FACS again. I can’t wait to get back in the classroom, teaching those little whipper-snappers all there is to know about food, nutrition, and how to be productive, independent individuals who can think and analyze and in turn, impact their world. That is what makes me feel fulfilled, and that, my friends, is something I can’t do in Germany.

Why Asheville?

On the night we met, the Kiwi, who had also recently moved to Germany from the south, and I talked extensively about our favorite Southern towns. Conveniently, they happened to be the exact same ones–Charleston, Savannah, and, yes, Asheville. When we started the conversation about going back to the States, we knew it was going to be one of those towns.

I truly believe that where you choose to live has a huge impact on your happiness. Short story is we are moving to Asheville because it’s  a town with great things going on: food-wise, art-wise, music-wise. It doesn’t hurt that it’s in the middle of the mountains {you know, my place} so hiking is just minutes away. Food, art, music, the outdoors–those are the things that make us happy, so we are choosing to be intentional and surround ourselves with that environment. Most importantly though, it’s a town we both feel completely at home in, settled. We are pretty sure these are our folks. We’ll fit right in.