Vegetarians in Paradise/Pecan Milk/Dairy Substitute/Non-Dairy Beverages

We're delighted to share our Aunt Nettie with you. She's agreed to answer any questions you might ask about vegetarian food, its preparation, and even clean-up tips. But we have to prepare you. She just might want to come right over to your house and help you fix dinner.

To send any questions to Ask Aunt Nettie, .

Dear Aunt Nettie,

My 5-year-old daughter is allergic to cow's milk and hates soymilk. She eats hot cereal with us for breakfast, but I don't know what to give her instead of those. Any suggestions? Help!

Sarah, a desperate Mom

Howdy there Sarah,

Now, darlin' don't you fret none, 'cause there's always somthin' good jes 'round the corner. What I have fer yer l'il darlin' is some mighty delicious pecan milk. I know, I know, that don't sound one bit familiar to ya, but there's lots o nourishment in them pecans Fer one thing, they's packed full o' antioxidants and that milk is mighty fine tastin' too.

Yer ever lovin' Aunt Nettie

PECAN MILK Pecan

Combine all ingredients in a blender and begin blending on low speed for a few seconds. Increase speed and blend on high for a full minute.
Pour pecan milk into a pitcher a little at a time through a fine mesh strainer, stirring continuously with a spoon. Press extra liquid from pulp remaining in the strainer. Discard pulp or save it to thicken a sauce.
Store pecan milk in the refrigerator. Use within 3 days. Makes a scant 2 cups.

If You Haven't Met Aunt Nettie. . .

Our Aunt Nettie has a head like a hard disk. It's filled with gigabytes of information about food and cooking. And she's just itchin' to share her learnin' with city folk who live in mortal fear of the stovetop.

Aunt Nettie grew up on the farm. She did not eat out of a can or reach into the freezer. There was no microwave to pop her food into. Everything she made was from scratch. All the food she ate was natural, without pesticides. It was grown right there on the family farm, and she had to cook to survive. At eighty-three years young she still leaps and bounds around the kitchen and can shake, rattle, and roll those pots and pans with the best of them.

Nowadays, Aunt Nettie just shakes her head and complains, "Nobody cooks anymore. They have no idea about puttin' a meal together." She's on a mission. She wants to help those younguns eat better so they can grow up healthy like her own eight kids.

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