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Book Report: A Homemade Life

September 11th, 2009

I read about A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table on another blog. I can’t remember which one, sorry. At first this book didn’t seem all that interesting to me and I almost didn’t read it, but I’m so glad I did.
A_homemade_life_book
It’s a wonderfully entertaining book, part cookbook, part biography. Each short chapter is comprised of a brief story about a specific dish some are quite funny others sentimental and sad.
inside_a_homemade_life
It’s quite fascinating to read the history of the recipes and how each recipe became a part of Molly’s life. The recipes are also fantastic, I tried several of them and I’d highly recommend the pancakes! It’s the perfect book to keep on your nightstand so you can read a chapter or two each evening, although you many end up dreaming of delicious food all night long.

Have you read any good books lately that you’d recommend?

19 Comments to “Book Report: A Homemade Life”
  1. kristin @ going country on September 11, 2009 at 7:22 am

    I’m currently re-reading Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries. I LOVED Agatha Christie when I was about 12 and read all her books. I don’t love them quite as much now, but they’re still entertaining.
    .-= kristin @ going country´s last blog ..Gimme a P! =-.

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    • Susy on September 11, 2009 at 9:06 am

      I always loved Agatha Christie when I was growing up. I read them all back then.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary on September 11, 2009 at 8:10 am

    I LOVED Molly’s book! Loved it! I have a book for you. I think you will find it very interesting it’s called: Farm City:The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter. I read it in two nights. I just couldn’t put it down. It was witty and funny and so fascinating. I think you will really enjoy it. She has a blog too: Ghost Town Farm.

    http://novellacarpenter.com/
    .-= Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary´s last blog ..Oat Nanner Clusters =-.

    Reply to Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary's comment

    • Susy on September 11, 2009 at 9:06 am

      Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll put it in my library queue.

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • Maureen on September 11, 2009 at 11:33 am

        I’ll just put a big ‘Ditto’ on Lisa’s recommendation. I’m just finishing Farm City and I love it. Her ‘farm’ is like no other I’ve ever read about, more ghetto than urban, and she actually gardens on a vacant lot next to their apt. The characters that inhabit her little cul-de-sac are funny, sometimes dangerous, and oddly endearing. My hubby is reading it now and he likes it too.

        ….and I’m getting me some goats :)
        .-= Maureen´s last blog ..Hey…that’s MY egg! =-.

        to Maureen's comment

  3. Mangochild on September 11, 2009 at 8:12 am

    I’ve never heard of that book, but I’m going to look for it now. Sounds like a great balance of different genres. Did you find any new recipes you especially liked?
    .-= Mangochild´s last blog ..Cooking Venture: Sorghum Bread =-.

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    • Susy on September 11, 2009 at 9:36 am

      They all sounded so delicious. I only had time to make scones and pancakes from it before I had to return it to the library. I’m going to check it out again and try more of the recipes next time.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. Ryan on September 11, 2009 at 9:56 am

    Bringing It to the Table
    On Farming and Food
    By Wendell Berry

    And the Edible Forest Garden two volume series by Dave Jacke (right now if you order from his website you can get the books 25% off and signed by him!!)
    .-= Ryan´s last blog .. =-.

    Reply to Ryan's comment

  5. Amy W. on September 11, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Right now I’m reading Beverly Lewis books.

    Amy

    Reply to Amy W.'s comment

  6. Beegirl on September 11, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    This book is in my winter reading stack! Still working through AVM.. Can’t wait to read this one though..
    .-= Beegirl´s last blog ..Bee Girl =-.

    Reply to Beegirl's comment

  7. Val on September 11, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    I LOVE that book. I got it from the library and couldn’t put it down. The stories she adds in with the recipes… they were just priceless. I tried French Toast in oil. We didn’t like it. lol! But it was a fun experiment and I told my kids her story about her dad’s french toast. Beautiful book. :)

    Really enjoying your blog. Have a beautiful day.

    Val
    .-= Val´s last blog ..Another recycled felt hat =-.

    Reply to Val's comment

    • Susy on September 11, 2009 at 11:10 pm

      I like my french toast fried in butter- MMMMMM.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  8. ruralrose on September 11, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    I just finished writing a similar book, Life through the Cracks: A Place To Start. 174 pages Fearing food security for all this winter, I have set it as “FREE DOWNLOAD” for a limited time.

    Description: “Why do we need money for sustenance and health which has always been inherently free for all? Nature doesn’t care about money. She only cares about providing, producing and propagating with voracity, variety, and excess. She supplies every second of every day, simultaneously for every entity on this planet, and she always has. If only we would be receptive to what is offered, when it is offered.” ** Specific details on selecting, growing, cooking and preserving for vegetables, fruit and herb *** Home-cooking Made Easy ** Modern homesteading, choosing property, country living and raising farm birds and animals ** “If we refuse to play our rightful part in the balance of nature, the magic will cease to exist and we will be putting the lives of all at peril. Acknowledging our importance is the only way to save what is left of the integrity of the planet. We are to nurture and assist Mother Nature as she tries to heal the planet from greed’s onslaught.” FULL COLOR PHOTOS

    http://www.lulu.com/content/6230253

    Sorry for the shameless spam, peace for all
    .-= ruralrose´s last blog .. =-.

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  9. Becky T. Lane on September 11, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Yes, this one! It’s on my nightstand! I also just reread A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlene de Blasi, and Joie de Vivre by Robert Arbor, who says “It’s not just about cooking, decorating, or entertaining – it’s about enjoying all the small details of domestic life. It’s about making time for family, growing some vegetables in your garden, chatting with the butcher, and cooking for your family and friends.”

    Reply to Becky T. Lane's comment

  10. Mr. Chiots on September 11, 2009 at 11:25 pm

    Atlas Shrugged…. ugh!

    Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

  11. MAYBELLINE on September 12, 2009 at 12:39 am

    My bible – Sunset Western Garden Book.
    .-= MAYBELLINE´s last blog ..Wasco Rose Festival =-.

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  12. pam on September 12, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    I have this on my to-be-read pile. I’m glad you liked it.
    .-= pam´s last blog ..Weekend Cat Blogging #223 – The Alliteration =-.

    Reply to pam's comment

  13. andrea on September 15, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    I also liked Molly’s book and actually did something quite out of character – jumped around instead of reading start to finish. Have tried a few recipes, too. Love the chana masala and have made it a few times. The supposedly wonderful chocolate cake didn’t work at all for me for some reason. I’ve got a few others in my cooking queue for when the season changes. I also am looking forward to reading Farm City when it is in a the library. I read the author’s sister’s blog regularly (frenchtoastfrance.blogspot.com) – lots of good ideas for pushing the envelope. I just came across another fun food preservation book called Preserved (Nick Sandler and Johnny Acton) and love it! I need to get to some fiction soon for a little break!

    Reply to andrea's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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