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
{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}

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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}

It’s the weekend!

We are actually staying in Bavaria this weekend, and I am so excited about having a chill weekend at home. We haven’t done that in a while. We’re planning on taking a nice long walk through the Englisher Garten, catching a play, and hopefully, heading to the Alps for a quick visit.

Perfection.

You know what else hasn’t happened in a while? Food News. My links bookmark folder is getting unruly because I’ve amassed a ridiculous number of articles that I’m just dying to share and discuss.

So, I’m sharing.

Let’s discuss.

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An explanation as to why flavor is as much mental as it is physiological. {scientific american}

A look at why companies think GMO labeling would raise food prices. Hint, it’s not the labels. {grist}

A really interesting article about the evolution of boxed cake mix. {bon appétit}

Could the chemicals in processed foods be the contributing factor for obesity? {pro publica}

An interview with Marion Nestle: school “cafeterias [are the] key battlegrounds in the fight against obesity and poor nutrition.” {civil eats}

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Can you believe they use lye when making pretzels?! I’ll stick with the baking soda when we give this a try this weekend. {the kitchn}

Sign me up for this butternut squash mac and cheese. Get in my belly! {marshalls abroad}

Can’t wait to try this salad. {naturally ella}

{love}

Parchment paper really is a baked goods game changer. {food52}

How to maintain those gorgeous wooden chopping boards. {the kitchn}

This tortilla press is exactly what I’ve been looking for. The goodies that come with it aren’t half bad either. {food 52 provisions}

We made it to Friday my friends and my heart is full. We have a full house and bellies full of  good food and Oktoberfest beer. This weekend some work friends of the Kiwi are coming to town so here’s to more good conversations, breaking bread, and more trips to the Wies’n.

All is well.

{photo by the Kiwi}

Along with the new design and the new approach to blogging, our ‘Friday Links’ series is going to be changing a bit as well. It’s going to be a bit less random and more focused on food, the food movement and our kitchens. That’s the reason we’re here right?

There are a lot of great conversations being held about food right now, helpful tips being shared, great recipes I want to try and products I am drooling over. Smart, creative, funny people are talking about food, and I love having a platform to share their stuff with y’all. Hopefully the articles will spark discussion, the tips can be life-savers, the recipes will be inspiring, and products to die for. I certainly think they are.

{read}

Modern Farmer talks global agriculture with Bill Clinton. {modern farmer}

I am so intrigued by this free online class from Harvard about science and cooking. {edX}

Need a guide for organizing the chaos that is happening in your kitchen? {the kitchn}

Great article about stocking a whole foods pantry. {naturally ella}

An initiative to cut down on food waste and turn it into an inexpensive alternative to fast food. {the salt}

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Can’t wait to try my hand at these cookies. Almond Joys are my favorite candy bar ever. {in the little red house}

Getting on the lentil train with this perfect fall stew, minus the carrots obviously. {in the little red house}

I’m making sauerkraut this weekend. Has anyone else had a whack at it? {the kitchn}

{love}

This apron is just precious and so functional. I love that loop! {schoolhouse electric}

Emily’s printables this month are the cutest yet. I use them all the time for meal planning, blog scheduling, and grocery lists. {jones design company}

Thanks so much for your sweet understanding yesterday. We seem to be on the mend, but we definitely needed a day of rest and recuperation. We’re still taking it easy though, so I’m settled in with my trusty blanket and a nice mug full of apple cider preparing for movie marathons and a little blog reading.

Having a similar kind of weekend? Here are some links from around the web to get you started.

mummelsee in the black forest

Can’t wait to try out this recipe.

“Bees are magical.”

Interesting explanation of why things taste bad after we brush our teeth.

Julia was wrong.

Fall is here!

…and I’m currently coveting this skirt.

Still counting calories?

Secrets for meal planning.

Would you eat roadkill? {Kind of makes me think of this: le sigh.}

Some genius ways to organize your tailgate.

It’s Friday friends, and it’s a red-letter day in the Kiwi and Peach household.

This one time, I moved to Germany and was so scared to get my hair cut that I just let it grow and grow and grow until I found myself waking up in the middle of the night tangled in my own hair. Seriously, I’d have dreams about people pulling my hair and would wake up to find that I was just stuck.

So I chopped all my hair off. In a burst of courage {assisted by some wine}, I made an appointment with a Kiwi who owns a salon here in Munich and he made the chop. 13 inches folks– I feel so free!

My project for the weekend.

Along with trying out some of these short hair styles.

What’s that about a canoe and American beer tasting like water?

Really want to give this recipe a shot.

…and this one too.

Wonderful advice for 20 somethings.

This cracked me up.

Words we could use in the English language. {My fave? Backpfeifengesicht}

Striving for this.

Ready to get your nerd on? {Bonus points.}

Here’s to this kid for trying to start a conversation about school lunch.

What do you have on tap this weekend friends?

The Kiwi and I are headed to the Dachauer Volksfest. Knowing that it’s essential to train our bodies for the Maße of beer and straight animal fat we’re going to be consuming at Oktoberfest, we are getting an early start. Well that and the Kiwi is always looking for an opportunity to wear his lederhosen.

On a completely separate note…

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support in Small Cool Kitchens 2013. We made it to the top five! From here the judges will pick the winner, and, while I secretly think that one of the others should win hands down, I’m just tickled pink to have been featured and to have made it that far. {Read: I’m relieved it wasn’t a gigantic embarrassment and that no one seemed to think our kitchen had no business being on The Kitchn.} So thank you.

Really want to try this recipe this weekend.

…and this one too.

23 days.

Would you eat the test tube burger?

A response to the ‘Frankenburger.’

Speaking of strange burgers…

it’s not a good sign when a comedian is your think tank.

This proposal can’t help but make you smile {and maybe cry just a little}.

Make your own brown sugar.

Take that Kiwi. {I question it’s validity, but it’s pretty and makes me feel better about life.}

Photo{shop} bomb.

This would make my day every. single. day.

Hey there friends! What are you doing this weekend?

The Kiwi and I are off to meet my folks in the Black Forest. We’ll be exploring, hiking, and seeing some pretty spectacular sights. Oh, and did I mention we are staying in a freaking castle?!

If you’re in a reading mood this weekend, here are some fabulous links to keep ya busy. Have a great weekend!

Tips for making your cut flowers last longer.

Well played J.K. Rowling. Well played.

Simple tip for flavorful grains.

Is ‘real food’ a fad?

This is spot on.

Can’t wait to try this bourbon peach sorbet.

Whoa, genetics.

36 days ’til kickoff.

Beautiful reminder.

It’s amazing what you can recycle!

Gorgeous botanical prints. Fo’ free!

Happy Friday friends. We made it! Isn’t the first week back after vacation always the hardest? I’m looking forward to a weekend spent with great friends, good food and preparing the apartment for some special guests.

What are you doing this weekend?

photo by the Kiwi of our Summer Berry Spritz with Rosemary Simple Syrup

Clever dinner party dessert tip.

Interesting look at the economics of quinoa.

Can’t wait to try this summery drink.

Whoa!

Thoughtful article about our choices at the grocery store and in the voting booth.

Some great summer hair tips.

Handy.

How to cut a mango. {Am I the only one who butchers them every time?}

Precious {free} recipe cards.

Trying my hand at making this for dinner tonight. Fingers crossed.

Happy weekend friends! What are you up to this weekend? Today we are said goodbye to the Cinque Terre and headed to Florence, and we stopped in Pisa for the day on the way. I’m tried to convince the Kiwi that it would totally be okay to take the tourist picture of us trying to hold up the tower but he didn’t buy it.

If you’re not already following us on instagram, now is the time! I’m posting all sorts of vacation photos {when we have wifi} so you can keep up with our adventures.

Have a great weekend!

Up close and personal with some really cute animals.

A thought provoking article about marketing foods to children.

Why book an apartment as opposed to a hotel? {We will are in apartments for the rest of the trip and I could not be more excited!}

Hilarious chart for decoding what the Kiwi really means when he says ‘interesting.’

Cooking on vacation.

A look at the not so pretty side of the vitamin industry.

Beautiful photo series about what grandmothers all over the world are cooking up.

Some great ideas for meals made straight from the farmers market.