Sounds Good

Pecans are on the mind in Groves
Folks are claiming to feel fall in the air. In Groves, that means Texas Pecan Festival time and I’ve got pecans on the mind.
The festival runs from Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 20 at Lions Park in Groves and Angel Contreras heads the Cooking with Pecans Contest. Contestants may bring dishes in an appetizer, entree or dessert category to Lions Park at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. To register in advance, pick up a form at the chamber office 4399 Main Ave.
I noticed some pecan fare in “Raw Food Quick & Easy” by Mary Rydman. Golden Sun soup with corn and coconut, Winter Pate with pumpkin seeds and squash and persimmon cookies are all easy-looking temptations. I tried a variation of a pudding by simply putting an apple, banana and coconut in the blender. Great stuff. Here’s one that makes use of pecans:
No-Fail Pie Crust
Author’s note: This crust is so good it almost doesn’t matter what you put on top of it. It’s a no-fail recipe.
Advance prep: 6 hours to soak nuts
1 cup almonds, soaked
1 cup pecans or walnuts, soaked
2 cups dates, soaked if they are not soft ones
1 tablespoon vanilla
Grind nuts first in a food processor, then add dates. You may need to scrape down the sides occasionally. Press into pie plate with wet hands. Top with sliced seasonal fruit of your choice. Serves 8 with filling.


Junk food bondage
In “Faith & Fat Loss,” Ron Williams invites readers to build a physical and spiritual body by dispelling myths, overcoming soul wounds and enhancing a relationship with God. He lives in Salt Lake City and is pastor to Back to the Foundation Church and the cover calls him “natural bodybuilder of the decade.” For Williams, prayer is one exercise toward self improvement. He links the bondage of the Hebrews in Egypt to the bondage of junk food in today’s society and offers a way out, by eating real foods and not food-like substances.
Here are a few of his tips from a section called The Overlooked Hindrance:
• Avoid processed meats
• Eat broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, they are excellent choices for eliminating estrogen in the body
• Do not microwave foods in plastics or cover with plastic wrap
• Use a simple laundry and dish detergent with fewer chemicals

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ddoiron@panews.com