REVIEW: Kneadlessly Simple BY Nancy Baggett

Potato bread from Kneadlessly Simple topped with avocado and tomatoes

I first reviewed this cookbook back in 2016, but wanted to bring it back up again. If my grocery store is any indication people are baking up a storm. For anyone who has not baked bread before Nancy Baggett’s method is really user friendly. I don’t think it’s available in print any more, but you can get it on kindle. (Note: Right now it’s free for Kindle Unlimited members!)

Some recipes are also available on her website. Look for anything that says no knead or kneadlessly simple.

Here’s my original review from 2016:

This time of year things start to get crazy, but we still like our freshly made bread. Enter one of my favorite cookbooks, Kneadlessly Simple by Nancy Baggett. In between swim camp and trying to get everything ready for back to school I was able to knock out 4 loaves of bread with about 20 minutes active work.

This is a great book for reading too. The varieties and instructions are interesting. Baggett really goes into the science behind her bread.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

During Times of Crisis FDR Also Worked From Home

My daughter thought she could fool me into thinking she was working on her math

I’m sure I’m not alone in noticing how this crisis has brought out the best in some leaders and the absolute worst in some others. I was talking about it with a friend who has the complete opposite political views as me, and other than agreeing that Woodrow Wilson was no good the conversation didn’t get very far. So as usual I turned to a book.

The first page of this book is a layout of FDR’s second floor family quarters in the White House during WWII. Every room on that floor was filled with staff and friends, and right next to his bedroom FDR had a study where he could work from home. Since I’ve been struggling with telecommuting with a full family in the house, I wondered if I could pick up a few tips from FDR.

FDR Stuck To A Schedule

Every morning at 8 am Roosevelt started his day with breakfast in bed- oj, eggs, coffee, and toast. While he ate he prepped for the day by reading the papers. He then reviewed his schedule with his advisors.

FDR Knew What Worked For Him

FDR had a method that drove some of his generals crazy. He liked to solve problems through conflict. He called everyone by their first names from his butler to Winston Churchill. There was often confusion around FDR, but he knew what worked for him and he went with it.

Even When He Was Working Far Away From His Allies FDR Kept In Touch

Have you heard the phrase “Social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation.”? Roosevelt couldn’t travel as much as he would have liked due to his disabilities. Instead he relied upon his wife’s observations and regular communications with his contemporaries. He told Winston Churchill “I shall at times welcome it if you will keep me in touch personally with everything you want me to know about. You can always send me sealed letters through your pouch or my pouch.”

FDR Took Breaks

A big struggle for me is feeling like the work day never ends since my home office is also my dining room table. After about a week I realized working every minute I wasn’t helping the kids with school or cooking our meals wasn’t going to last. FDR kept a cocktail hour every day when talk of politics and war was banned. It was a time to rest and recharge. I don’t have the stamina to drink like FDR in the middle of the day, but a quiet hour with tea and a book helps me out a lot.

You Might Also Like:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Food For Thought: Invisible Women and the Current Crisis

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez is a deep dive into how we are analyzing data wrong when it comes to men and women. I listened to it last week, and was all up in arms about clinical trials not even looking at how drugs impact men vs women. I work with data for a living and we study things that are way, way lower risk that harmful drug interactions and we always look at the gender spllt.

Then my kids’ schools closed. And my office closed. And I’m here working more hours than usual and home schooling, and foraging for food (and toilet paper), and cleaning like a mad woman. And I wondered is anyone going to look at what this crisis is doing to women? Or will we keep on assuming that when it comes to data the default human is a man? Will the story of the corona virus tell the whole story?

If you are at home this month and need something to think about I highly recommend this book.

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

My New Reading Garden

My reading garden is finally starting to take shape

One of my goals this year was to create a reading garden. It was hard work clearing out all of the bushes and ivy that were in this corner, but I’m so happy with the result. I can’t wait to spend the summer reading on that bench!

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

I am well in body although considerably rumpled up in spirit

Flowers from my walk

What a week. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying my reading life has taken a turn while I have been busy building contingency plans for my contingency plans. As of now I am telecommuting full time for the next month while I am homeschooling my two kids. It’s a lot, but I know I’m really lucky to have a good telecommutable job.

The one reading goal I did get done last week is to start a buddy read for Anne of Green Gables. I only have time for about five pages a day, but any really enjoying those five pages. Anne Shirley is new to me, and I can say for sure that she is a kindred spirit!

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

March Show Us Your Books

I have a ridiculous amount of books out of the library right now. I’m not sure what happened. I had been doing such a good job of keeping on top of my holds.

February was a good reading month for me. I’m doing a #AuthorAMonth challenge on Litsy, so took a deep dive into Colson Whitehead. Also, current events seem to be strongly impacting my reading choices.

Here are the best books I read last month:

Best of the Best

(One fiction, one non)

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - I think most people know what this book is about by now, so I won’t re-tell the synopsis. After reading two other books by Whitehead earlier in the month I didn’t think I would like this, but it really is a masterpiece. I’m so glad I finally read it.

On the Clock by Emily Guendelsberger - My co-worker suggested this because she knew I had liked Nickel and Dimed. Sure enough I was fascinated by this updated version where a woman works at Amazon, a call center, and McDonalds. This book seems especially powerful in light of all the conversations we’ve been having lately about lack of paid sick leave.

It’s the End of the World As We Know It

(Where my Twitter feed and the daily news subliminally impacts what I read.)

The Stand by Stephen King - Stephen King’s plague book. My copy is an old, beaten up paperback that doesn’t include the expanded versions from the 1990’s. Sorry King purists, but I prefer it that way. I think it’s a better, cleaner story for the editing.

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - This book was interesting- a total breakdown of society as experienced by a First Nation tribe. When phone, internet, and services are cut off they think it’s a normal interruption and go about living as they normally would. Eventually they find out it’s something more.

Zone One by Colson Whitehead - This is Whitehead’s zombie apocalypse book, although I read it as more tongue and cheek. Maybe I’m just not deep enough, but I kept feeling like there was more to the story than I was getting.

Vox by Christina Dalcher - This dystopian novel had an excellent premise. In the not too distant future the US has become extremely conservative to the point where women and girls are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. Unfortunately after a impactful opening the book just kind of fizzled. However this book did give me the momentum to finally get my real ID, renew my passport, and check on my voter registration. So there’s that.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - My second post-plague book of the month, I read this as part of my project re-read. This book gets a lot of hype for good reason.

And a Few More Good Books Worth Talking About

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - Another book for project re-read. I think I said this last month too, but more and more I’m really starting to appreciate books that feature older people having lives and maybe even falling in love.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell - This one was a ROLLER COASTER. A girl inherits a house and a whole lot of baggage. Read this if you’re a fan of Ruth Ware.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - Again, I feel like I’m probably the last person to have read this so I won’t re-tell the plot. I’ll just say the world building and magical realism in this YA chunkster were great fun. I’ve read that the next book in the series isn’t as good, and I’m bummed. I’ll still give it a try though.

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg - One of my favorite themes in books is families we’re born into and families we make. This book had that in spades, and was just the feel good palate cleanser I needed during the doom and gloom of last month.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Memoirs Make Me Feel Icky

This week I read my latest Early Reviewers book from LibraryThing, Malnourished by Cinthia Ritchie. I had a lot of trouble with it, and I finished it with an overwhelming feeling of why. Why do people write with such detail about their lives? Am I the only one who jut feels icky about reading about a person’s really intimate history?

I was really happy to see an article in National Review that expressed a lot of my feelings better than I could. If you’re feeling icky about memoirs give it a read: Educated - Tara Westover Shares Too Much Too Soon.

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Spring Fever Reading

This winter has not been bad at all, but I have spring fever and it shows in my reading.

It started with the house plants. On a nice day I re-potted all of my plants, and realized I now have way too many. The library to the rescue! I checked out Decorating With Plants by Baylor Chapman. I loved this book, and it has helped me spread my plants out around the house in a way that doesn’t make me look like a crazy plant lady.

I’ve also been cleaning out my freezer and re-filling it with healthy meals and ingredients. The library to the rescue again- The Make Ahead Sauce Solution by Elisabeth Bailey has been super helpful. I like that I’m just freezing the sauce, not the entire meal. It’s a great space saver.

I’ve also been trying to streamline my schedule and be more productive. 5-Minute Stress Relief by Elena Welsh had a ton of great tips for quieting my mind, and productively dealing with my stress (instead of looking at Twitter and feeling like the world is going to end.)

Happy Spring everyone!

(Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support! 5-Minute Stress Relief was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Books To Read In March

March to me means gardening, new beginnings, travel, and a little bit of romance. If you’re also thinking along those lines here are some books I can recommend for March.

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Walking Wednesday

Audiowalking is one of my favorite things to do. I tend to stick to the same routes, but each day I see something new. Here’s what I’ve been listening to and seeing this week.

I listened to:

And I saw:

Note: Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

COOKBOOK REVIEW: The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners by Laurie Fleming

Cinnamon rolls from the air fryer are perfect for Sunday mornings

My husband was worried that when my kids gifted me an air fryer for Christmas I would take it the wrong way. My kids had seen a very persuasive infomercial though, and talked him into it. The kids were right. I love that thing. I use it at least once a week, mostly to roast vegetables.

When I got the chance to review an air fryer cookbook I jumped at it. I was ready to graduate from roasted broccoli.

The book was great. I was amazed at all of the things I can make in my air fryer. I made hard boiled eggs and cinnamon rolls right away, and they kind of saved the weekend. My only complaint is that many of the recipes called for specialty pans and ramekins.

My conclusion: it’s okay to gift your mom an air fryer, but you should buy her this book too.

Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Books about gardening for mud season

I went to write a post about gardening books to read when you’re waiting for gardening season to start only to find I had already written it. Here’s a repost from 2016.

We've had some warm days this month, and the temptation to go outside and plant something is strong. It's a fool's errand though. Anything I plant will just drown in the wet soil, and more mud will end up on my shoes than on the ground. Here's what I'm reading until it's safe to work in the garden.

The Food Lover's Garden by Angelo Pellegrini - this is an old book that doesn't read like an old book. If you love to grow vegetables it's worth seeking out.

The 100 mile diet made popular by Plenty and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle isn't as popular as it once was, but these books are worth going back to.

The Backyard Homestead will make you want to plow your lawn, and grow paw-paws, tree nuts, and all sorts of other crazy things. That's not a bad thing!

What are your favorite books about gardening?

Links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Show Us Your Books Feb. 2020

My cat passed away last month, and that has seriously damped my ability to enjoy books. Is reading on the couch even reading if you don’t have a cat practicing yoga moves on your knee? I’ll miss him forever, but hopefully I’ll get back to my love of reading soon. Until then know I am probably being unnecessarily grumpy about some of these books.

My Best Read of the Month

The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso - Someone described this as woke Golden Girls, which I thought was pretty funny and also accurate. Two sworn enemies live next door to each other have to put their differences aside when they realize they need each other. For those like me who have been seeking out books with characters over 40 who actually do things more interesting that drinking tea and giving advice give this one a read.

Great For Winter Reading On The Couch

The Gown by Jennifer Robson - A good story matched with good information about England after WWII.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf - I almost put this down because of a lack of quotation marks, but I’m glad I ended up sticking with it. It’s a sweet story about families - the ones you’re born with and the ones you create.
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman - Another sweet story about families. If you like Backman you’ll like this book. If you don’t skip it.

Operation Re-Read

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell - I really, really loved this book when I first read it, and I still love it today. It was where I first learned about the danger of mitigating language and that I should trust my years of practice.
A Better Man by Louise Penny - I read this really quickly when it first came out, and wanted to read it again but slower. My initial assessment stands- not the best Gamache but still a decent read.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - I am in awe of Fitzgerald’s ability to say so much with just a few words. This is a yearly read for me, but to be honest I might pull it out again in a few months. That’s how much I love this book.

Note: links to amazon.com are affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

COOKBOOK REVIEW: The Peached Tortilla by Eric Silverstein

I was surprised by how much I liked this cookbook. Going in I thought it would be full of pretty looking but impossible to cook at home restaurant food. There were some involved recipes, but there were a lot of attainable ones too.

I also loved reading Silverstein’s story. Growing up as an American in Asia, then moving back to America having never actually lived there was an interesting way to develop a palate. I also appreciated his realizations that his career as a lawyer was killing his soul, and was glad he shared his first few years of floundering as a food truck operator. We can all use a reminder that hip restaurants and gorgeous cookbooks don’t just get awarded because you’re a nice person.

One night after work last week I whipped up some Chinese BBQ sauce and the Bacon Jam Brussels Sprouts to go with a ham dinner. Both were delicious. Next I’d love to try my hand at making some of the street tacos and cocktails from this book.

Messy weeknight kitchen

Visiting Austin has been on my travel bucket list for a few years now, and when I go visiting The Peached Tortilla is high on my list of things to do.

Audiowalking

I love walking this time of year, always with an audiobook playing in my ears. Some days are so dreary and gray, and then all of the sudden it will get ten degrees warmer and flowers will start poking through. Then the next day it might all be covered in snow again.

Spring is coming soon!