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The Raw and The Cooked

Simple Meals + Honest Book Reviews + Practical Living

OVERRATED READS | VOLUME NO. 15

Every so often, I like to write about books that didn’t land for me. Not because they’re objectively bad. Not because you shouldn’t read them. But because there’s something clarifying—almost relieving—about admitting when a highly recommended or buzzy book just… isn’t for you.

This is part of an ongoing Overrated Reads series here on the blog, where I share thoughtful, honest reflections on books I picked up with high hopes and ultimately put down disappointed, bored, or quietly annoyed. If you loved these books, truly—I’m glad. But here’s why they didn’t work for me. Thankfully all four of these novels were library picks, so no harm, no foul.

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Simple Homemade Bread

Bread is one of those foods we eat a lot around here—toast in the morning, sandwiches at lunch, and the occasional slice with peanut butter because someone is always hungry. With four kids, it adds up quickly. And the more I started reading ingredient labels, the more uncomfortable I became with how many additives show up in something that’s supposed to be so basic—especially seed oils, which I try hard to avoid.

So I decided it was time to make our bread at home.

This recipe uses just 7 simple, recognizable ingredients, compared to the 12–13 you’ll often find in store-bought loaves. I also use honey instead of sugar, which has a lower glycemic index and feels like a better fit for how we eat as a family. The result is a soft, everyday bread that works just as well for toast and sandwiches as it does fresh with butter—without the unnecessary extras.

Bread is one staple we rely on heavily, so making it a little more nourishing, a little more intentional, feels really great. This recipe yields two full loaves, and it’s pretty easy to throw together.

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Exodus 6:2-9:35 | Va’eira | “And I Appeared”

In just three short chapters, the Torah walks Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh through the first seven plagues — an exhausting back-and-forth between God and a ruler who refuses to budge. By the sixth plague, I imagine Moses and Aaron trudging back to Pharaoh muttering something like, “same 💩, different day.”

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Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Another delicious pureed vegetable soup to add into the winter rotation – and it’s dairy-free to boot! The creaminess comes from canned coconut milk, which is rich in healthy fats, MCTs, and vitamins. Also, with only a handful of ingredients, and comes together in under 30 minutes, it’s a winner in my book.

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Book Club | Good Energy by Casey Means

Why Good Energy Stuck With Me ✨

Today we’re diving into Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means. This book stayed with me because it offered a simple but radical reframe: nearly every chronic condition we see today—from fatigue and depression to infertility, heart disease, and dementia—can be traced back to how well our cells make and use energy.

When cells are underpowered or overwhelmed, inflammation follows. Inflammation isn’t the villain—it’s the immune system trying to help. But when that response becomes constant, it creates collateral damage. This is why metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation so often appear together.

Symptoms like brain fog, headaches, digestive issues, joint pain, anxiety, low mood, and constant fatigue have become so normalized that we treat them as a rite of passage—instead of what they really are: warning signs 🚨.

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Exodus 1:1-6:1 | Shemot | “Names”

Hello, hello! And welcome to Exodus. This is our first week with the second book of Moses, and it begins with a punch. Buckle up.

Right away, we’re steeped in Genesis symbolism, introduced to five women who each, in their own brave and defiant way, save Moses’ life, and drawn into some of the most compelling dialogue in the Bible. I’ve always been most captivated by the back-and-forth between God and a mortal — the honesty, the tension, the rawness. So it’s no surprise these opening chapters of Exodus thrill me.

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