Adjusting to life in a new country while raising a toddler has brought a mix of beauty, exhaustion, and deep gratitude. This past week in Germany was one of my favorites so far. From packing lunches for German Kindergarten (Kindi), baking birthday treats, navigating furniture stores, and prepping homemade meals, this week was full of real-life moments, flavor, and reflection.
Whether you’re a fellow mom, homemaker, expat, or just someone who loves food and family stories, I hope this post encourages you to embrace your rhythm, no matter where you are.
Settling Into Life With a Preschooler in Germany
Did you know I’m now a mom to a preschooler? It still feels surreal. Our son recently started attending a local Kindi here in Germany, and that shift has brought both joy and structure to our days.
I now pack lunches in the mornings, navigate new school customs, and show up for the acclimation process—which I know is a privilege not every parent gets. Watching my son grow in confidence and connection in this new setting is everything we hoped for when moving abroad.
Settling Into Life With a Preschooler in Germany
Did you know I’m now a mom to a preschooler? It still feels surreal. Our son recently started attending a local Kindi here in Germany, and that shift has brought both joy and structure to our days.
I now pack lunches in the mornings, navigate new school customs, and show up for the acclimation process—which I know is a privilege not every parent gets. Watching my son grow in confidence and connection in this new setting is everything we hoped for when moving abroad.
A Week of Nourishing Meals
🍗 Monday: Spatchcock Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
After a rainy morning in Stuttgart, I craved something cozy. I prepped a whole chicken using the spatchcock method (flattening it for an even roast) with herbs, sweet potatoes, onions, peppers, and garlic. The result? Crispy, juicy perfection served with a homemade salad and vinaigrette.
🧁 Tuesday & Wednesday: Muffins for Kindi & Lemonade Birthday Cake
We had a mini celebration at school for my son’s third birthday. I woke up early to bake two batches of streusel muffins—so many that I accidentally made 79! Thankfully, the extras went to the whole school. I also baked and prepped his brthday cake for the next day.
On Wednesday, I frosted his birthday cake: a homemade lemonade layer cake topped with lemon frosting, sprinkles, and lemon Oreos. He loved it, and so did I.
A Joyful Birthday Celebration
We celebrated my son’s birthday at a local bowling alley—something we’ve made a bit of a family tradition here in Germany. It was fun, simple, and filled with joy. And yes, the wings were incredible!
I also decorated the house with a few sweet touches so he’d wake up to something festive on his special day. Seeing his face light up made every bit of planning (and baking!) worth it.
🥣 Thursday: Tomato Soup & Sourdough
After several days of heavier meals, I kept things simple with a comforting tomato soup made from roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion, herbs, and milk—perfect with homemade sourdough bread.
🥗 Friday: Steak & Bean Salad
I needed to use up some beef, so I seared cube steak and tossed it into a hearty salad with cucumbers, red onions, herbs, beans, feta, and a lemony red wine vinaigrette. This is one of my favorite meal-prep salads.
🍨 Saturday & Sunday: Leftover Cake & Meal Prep
Saturday was low-key after we went furniture shopping. We were all tired from the week, so we just relaxed and ate leftovers. On Sunday, I prepped a few staples for the week to help me get ahead. We then went to church, brought lunch back home, filmed a snack video, and ended the night with my husband taking the dinner shift while I put my feet up.
A Joyful Birthday Celebration
We celebrated my son’s birthday at a local bowling alley—something we’ve made a bit of a family tradition here in Germany. It was fun, simple, and filled with joy. And yes, the wings were incredible!
I also decorated the house with a few sweet touches so he’d wake up to something festive on his special day. Seeing his face light up made every bit of planning (and baking!) worth it.
Recipes from Our Family Kitchen in Germany
Spatchcock Chicken Dinner
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the chicken: Use the spatchcock method by cutting along the breastbone and flattening the chicken.
- Place chopped vegetables in a roasting pan to form a bed.
- Lay the chicken skin-side up on top. Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.
- Arrange sweet potatoes around the chicken, coated in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Roast for 45–60 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and crispy.
- Serve with a simple salad tossed in red wine vinaigrette.
Lemonade Birthday Cake with Tart Lemon Frosting
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
- Mix lemonade powder with a bit of water to create a concentrate.
- Add lemonade mixture and vanilla to the wet batter.
- Alternate adding the dry mixture and buttermilk to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in sprinkles if using, divide between pans, and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- For the frosting: Cream the butter and cream until smooth. Add powdered lemonade mix and lemon juice. Gradually mix in powdered sugar until fluffy.
- Frost cooled cakes, chill for a crumb coat, then frost again for a smooth finish. Decorate with lemon slices and cookies if desired.
Homemade Sourdough Bread
Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl, mix starter with water until dissolved.
- Stir in flour and salt. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Cover and let rest for 30 minutes, then stretch and fold the dough every hour for 4-6 hours
- Shape the dough and place in a floured proofing basket or bowl.
- Let rise at room temperature for 4–8 hours or overnight. You can place your dough in the fridge overnight if you prefer and allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for it to come to room temperature before baking.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven inside.
- Score the top and bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 20–25 minutes more.
Creamy Tomato Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place tomatoes, onion, and garlic on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil, season with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Roast for 20–25 minutes until caramelized.
- Blend everything with milk or cream until smooth. Heat gently in a pot before serving.
Steak & Bean Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Season steak with salt and pepper. Cook in olive oil until browned and cooked through. Slice into strips.
- Rinse beans and chickpeas. Add to a large bowl with cucumber, onion, red pepper, and herbs.
- In a small jar, shake together lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Toss salad with dressing. Add steak slices and top with feta.
Mango Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
Homemaking, Motherhood, and Real-Life Rhythms
This week reminded me how powerful routines can be—even when they’re imperfect.
- Meal prep helps me feel more in control, even if I don’t always do it on Sundays.
- Simple breakfasts shared with my toddler bring calm to our mornings.
- Moments of reflection—during baking, bedtime, or cleaning—keep me grounded.
I’m learning to embrace this season: the mess, the muffins, the milestones.
Growing Together Abroad
Celebrating my son’s third birthday here in Germany felt like a milestone for all of us. This life hasn’t been easy to build, but it’s so deeply worth it. Every trip to the store, every packed lunch, every missed nap or perfect cake—it’s all part of our story.
If you’re in a season of change—whether it’s a move, a birthday, or just a shift in routine—I hope this post reminds you that growth doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
Thank you for being here. If you’d like recipes, meal planning tips, or more stories from our life abroad, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and join the conversation.
