No affiliate links in this entry.

In response to a question about how to get a darker top crust, 
in  2026/Jan/04 John DeFields wrote: 
(Thanks to John for permission to share )

“I’m not sure what model you have, but if it has a fruit/nut dispenser remove it unless you need it for a recipe. This allows for better air circulation at the top of the loaf.”

Note: Sample Loaves were egg-washed to enhance appearance

How to Freeze and Reheat Rice
Wheat’s KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie) 
takes almost as long to type this it does to “get it done” 

may continue affliiate links to “show” items mention in this entry.

Using Electric Pressure Cooker (mine is the Ninja Foodi OP400)
Prepare rice in multiples of 1 cup uncooked  per EPC directions
When done, Fluff vigorously 
Set Aside 1.5 cooked for “tonight” 
Since I cook “Pot-In-Pot” 
   move remainder to counter to cool 
   as soon as room temp, 
   portion into flip flap sandwich bags 
   Stack on a flat try and move to fridge to cool overnight
Next day, place bags in a larger zip bag (The Greenie In Me reuses gallon freezer zip locks for each flavor –  basmati, jasmine, etc) 

Defrost as needed, heat in covered dish in micro wave.  
Why you ask covered?  Because it keeps it from drying out and IF it was cooled properly will not get mushy/over cooked in texture. 

OR break it up, and lay out on sheet pan to prep for “fried rice” 
which works best if the rice has been dried a pit.  

For those who prefer more complicated “recipes” 
How to Freeze and Reheat Rice
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/how_to_freeze_and_reheat_rice/

Frugal Friday: Keeping My Blood Pressure lower.

This post may contain Affiliate links, see full disclosure note
Links in my entries usually open in a new tab.

in 2025 BJ’s “shipping” was unable to delivery correctly more than a dozen times which by the way is EVERY single order I was dumb enough to have shipped.

In 2025 Instacart correctly delivery – on time and usually in the first 10 minutes of the 2-hour window in 47 of 47 deliveries.

Yesterday, instead of spending useless time trying to get BJ’s and/or FedEx Ground to accept responsibility for misdelivered urgently needed items I did the math.

There are FIVE “bulk” items I buy every month from BJ’s.
for years we have maintained a separate Same Day Delivery account.

TWO of the five are no longer available thru Same Day Delivery “in this area” . And no, free shipping is not free if the product never reaches you and you are forced to find it elsewhere at a higher price.

So I did the math. Instacart for the win, again. I use Instacart for several reasons.

Now added to those reasons is keeping my blood pressure lower. Given the competition, at this time (Jan-2026) the monthly cost to use Instcart for my BJ needs is approximately $5-$10 per month.
– that means for $60 annually I am not aggravated by having to deal with repeated mis-delivery (for the records, BJ’s/FedEx-Redidential have not properly delivered any order in the past 18 months)

That means I can pay Instacart an additional $10-$120 and NOT use BJ’s delivery services.
And yes, I do keep track of what we use and buy whenever possible locally when on sale so that takes care of another dozen products I might have purchased from BJ’s

In 2025 it cost me an additional $150 in “lost” misdelivery that no one accepts responsibility for and would have been more except for kind folks who saw the package and brought it to our door. Full disclosure – after one other missing shipment that was valued at more than $100, they agreed to refund the $55 – and yes, we supplied images of their supposed delivery.

Looking 2025, IF I had used Instacart instead of BJ’s either shipping or same day delivery, the TOTAL added cost would have been $111 to Instacart instead of $100. Yeah for $11 – less than $1 a month, this delivery dependent person will not be renewing any delivery, Same day or shipping, thru BJ’s.

Rant over, at least for now.

• Sunday Snack Suggestion:   
• Garlic Know Monkey Bread
• Bread Machine Leaven Dough cycle
  The menu option that mixes and does first rise. 
• On KBS or Keepeez Brand machine, about 1 hr 24 min.
• Note: we will not use the Baking Soda Bath for this recipe

• Changes 
• Replace store brand pizza dough with My Pretzel dough recipe at Wheat Wrote What !?!
• OR: Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls, I plan to try cutting each in half to get more coated. you will need to allow time for defrost and first rise, longer time than making dough using Leaven Dough.
• – Skip Pretzel Baking Soda Bath
• will bake in either 6 inch tube or 6 inch bundt pan or maybe even the 8 in fluted pan with S/S cup in center to be use for dipping sauce when serving. need to think about that sauce.

• Ingredients
• My Pretzel dough recipe at Wheat Wrote What
• 2.5 cup All Purpose Or Bread Flour
• 1/3 cup VWG – Vital Wheat Gluten
• + .5 cup “bread flour” & if needed for dough
• 2 Tbl Malted Milk Powder (Carnation or Ovaltine)
• 1.0 tsp salt
• 1.0 tsp sugar or honey
• 1.5 cup warm water (75-85 degree) NOT STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP WATER
• 2.5 tsp Bread Machine Yeast

• Ingredients: By LaDonna Langwell
• Allrecipes Garlic Monkey Knots
  Click on link for full details
• butter
• chopped green onion
• minced fresh parsley
• large egg, beaten
• garlic powder or garlic paste
• salt
• Parmesan cheese grated

• Random thoughts:
• I wonder if the tiny buns could be wrapped around some cheese…
• Reminder: if you use dried parsley – revive it before adding to butter bath

update: 2026-Jan-29
plans to add my photos when time allows.

TIPLET: Question: My machine shows size choices of 500g i 750g i 1000g
how do I know which size to choose fro recipes choices of 1 lb, 1.5 lb, and 2 lb.

RULE OF THUMB:
keep in mind that the amount of flour that best suits a particular size is a range,
Use the machine size selection closest tot he amount suggested in your recipe of choice.
I.E. 750 grams is approximately 1.65 lbs.

Recommended Bread Making References

No Fuss Bread Machine Cook Book. The
Anderson, Michelle
(Paperback copyright 2016)
See page 227 for conversion start points
https://amzn.to/4pGp8uk

–

Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook for Beginners, The
Brooks, Stewart (Kindle copyright 2004)
https://amzn.to/3NNnIAZ
Convert not necessary – All recipes contain Imperial & Metric