SAVE THE PLANET

Creepy Critters You WANT in your Yard

Like it or not, your backyard is home to many thousands of little crawlies, but 9 out of 10 are not harmful or destructive, and many are even helpful. So before you scream, swat, or stomp, here are some good-guy bugs and friends to look out for to improve your gardening space, and even the planet.

You can welcome these bugs to your yard and garden with early-blooming plants, as well as flowering carrots and herbs.

LADYBUGS: These ferocious predators start out as larvae that cruise around on plants and eat up as many as 40 aphids an hour that would otherwise ruin your plants. GROUND BEETLES: are a type of predatory beetles that eat a wide range of insects, including nematodes, caterpillars, weevils, slugs, and silverfish. Feel free to rid yourself of those green, iridescent Japanese beetles; be nice to black ones.

HOVERFLIES: look like tiny yellowjackets and hover above flowers like little helicopters. They are not only great predators for aphids and caterpillars, they are great pollinators, too. STINKBUGS: do have a smelly gland in their abdomen, but they love to eat aphids, and caterpillar and beetle larvae. DRAGONFLIES: don’t even wait to grow up to be helpful. They hatch in water and eat up the larvae of other flying bugs. Adults are happy to eat mosquitoes, gnats, and flies. PILL BUGS: or “roly-polys” breathe through gills, and love to eat garden debris. If you have a compost heap, these are your best workers. SPIDERS: worldwide save us billions in pesticides.

Whether living in webs or snapping up prey from holes in the ground, they rid us of aphids, flies, beetles, grasshoppers, mosquitoes, and even wasps. BIGGER GAME TOADS & FROGS: aren’t pretty, but they are an earth-friendly alternative to pesticides. They feed on slugs and snails that could otherwise damage your garden. They can also eat up to 10,000 bugs in a summer, making them pretty efficient too. BATS: are natural-born killers of mosquitoes, and help eat millions of other tiny insects. GARTER SNAKES: are harmless to humans and worthy of our respect. They hide in shady places; bushes, tall grass or piles of wood and rocks, and enjoy eating crickets, grasshoppers, and other insects.

Most garter snakes have yellow stripes on a brown or green background

THE UNSUNG HERO

When a possum (technically, Opossum) isn’t busy ridding the world of 5,000 or more ticks every year, it is eating cockroaches, rats, snails, slugs, and mice. For mealtime, possums also clean up all kinds of germy carrion, including roadkill, which might explain why they often wind up as such.

Before you shoo them out of your yard some late night, consider they are resistant to snake venom and are great predators of copperheads and rattlesnakes, which you definitely don’t want in your personal space. As a bonus, if you are growing fruit or berries, they are only too happy to carry away over-ripe or rotting foods and spare you the work of doing it yourself.

If you do surprise them and they “play possum,” you can expect them to stay frozen for about 1-4 hours. Science tells us it is their only survival instinct, considering how easily they are outrun by nearly all of their natural predators.

YOU ARE TOTALLY GOING TO GOOGLE THIS AS SOON AS YOU FINISH READING...

Michael Myers, the psychotic killer of “Halloween” movie fame, is wearing a cheap Captain James T. Kirk mask. Apparently the movie’s budget was so small, the $2 Star Trek mask was all they could afford. After cutting out bigger eye holes and adding some white spray paint, it became the creepy version of William Shatner we remember from the poster.

by Ann Marie Kennon

kids

Still Creeping it Real on Halloween

Halloween was likely the last thing on our minds to be concerned about last Spring, but in many places around the country, it has become another holiday casualty of 2020. Still, in the nation that invented monster trucks and Frito pie, there’s no telling what kind of excellent and creative adaptations we might see this year.

As of press time, the City of Liberty Hill isn’t planning a ban on, or additional restrictions for, trick-or-treating. However, they do ask everyone to practice the safety tips asked of us every other day of the year: Keep your distance from people outside of your home, wear a mask (spooky or otherwise, as long as it covers your nose and mouth), and don’t go out if you have symptoms.

With all that in mind, let’s get to the good stuff and think... if we can’t (or choose not to) do what we used to do, what can we do instead?

GO “GRISWOLD” ON YOUR HOUSE

Why not get in the spirit and decorate in and outside your home. Get the neighbors involved and have a whole haunted street for drive-by visitors. Maybe create a display and invite other families to compete for the best pumpkin designs. You can even steal this theme... Gourdgeous Disney Princesses!

COSTUME CONTEST

Friends and classmates can gather on a video call and show off their creativity, with makeup or costume masks rather than the regular kind. But, if you are tired of doing everything virtual, find an outdoor space to fit a long, chalk runway, and get some strong flashlights to spotlight your model scarers from a distance.

POP-UP EVENTS

If you have a lot of kids and families nearby, you can plan something in secret and just see who stops by to play a game or have a costume parade. Without advance notice, you are not likely to draw a large crowd, and people can come and go at their leisure to keep the numbers low.

BAG THE TREATS

We know the kids want candy. Instead of having a grab-bowl for many little hands, pack your treats in individually wrapped bags and leave them where they can easily be picked up from a table or blanket. Then just wave from the porch and replenish as necessary.

OR, STRING ‘EM UP!

If you want to keep folks from grouping up on the porch, bag some candies and hang them from your fence so kids can give them a quick swipe and go. Or add some lights to your trees and hang baggies there for gamey jump-n-grabs. You could throw in a spooky character or two amid the branches and flash the lights for extra surprises.

STAY HOME AND GET CRACKIN’

Break out those plastic Easter eggs and decorate them with Halloween stickers or pumpkin faces. Fill the eggs with candy and hide them outside or around the house. Bonus: squeeze some bendy glow bracelets inside and fill the yard with glowing eggs for a nighttime hunt.

FAIRYTALE FOREST

This is my favorite from Halloween2020.org. Plan a path through neighboring woods or a park and light it up with glow sticks, flashlights and more. Line the trail with Halloween décor, props, candy, and surprises. Trees can be tied with ribbons to help follow social distance guidelines.

“BOO” SOMEONE IN NEED

Maybe consider donating your candy or party funds to Williamson County Brown Santa. Sure, Christmas is really their thing, but the annual “Nightmare on Jail Hill” is their biggest fundraiser, and they had to cancel this year. This annual fright-fest draws thousands of thrill seekers from all over Texas and raises upwards of $40,000, over a few weekends, for the Brown Santa fund. No doubt their Santa wish lists will need our help more than ever this year. Wilco.org/BrownSanta

EXPERIENCE LIBERTY HILL

by Ann Marie Kennon

Smilin’ V Scout Ranch

Just ten minutes from the city center is a gorgeous piece of countryside, purchased by the Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America, and dedicated to the growing number of Scouts in Williamson County. The Smilin’ V Scout Ranch has 100 acres of creative space for family camping and Scout activities, and will eventually be available to businesses, non-profits, and other groups for education and events.

Capital Area Vice-President Ron Garland says the Ranch is not only beautiful, it is optimally located. Current Scout camps are in Bastrop, and the Ranch will provide ample local opportunities, particularly for Cub Scouts, Cub packs, and their families.

HOW IT STARTED

Two years ago, Ron began hiring the best engineers and builders to install infrastructure for a very modern outdoor experience. Camping areas have water and electricity underground, and will include eight pavilions for activities designated by pack directors. Construction for each is about $50,000 and there are still some available for funding and naming rights for companies or individuals who wish to support future growth.

They have already upgraded the main kitchen, and modernized bathrooms to provide showers and privacy for campers and their families. “Water and power was the most expensive, but most important piece of our development. Although it is invisible to visitors, it means the difference between ‘roughing it’ and providing amenities and technology that will hopefully attract non-Scouting groups to visit and help us sustain operations for a long time to come.” FUTURE GROWTH

Over time, and with help from the community, the Ranch will add an archery and BB range, chapel, Council ring, fishing ponds, splashpad, and a “wild west” Main Street with open air and classroom space (concept photo below) for Scouts, corporate retreats, and STEM education.

P.J. Brown is a Scoutmaster and full-time resident on the Ranch. He says it is a great place to live and is looking forward to seeing the pavilions put to use for myriad programs. “With open air and covered spaces with electricity, we can accommodate nearly any program our leaders determine. We will also have climate-controlled space for a nurse’s station and trading post for Scout items, drinks and snacks.”

TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE

The Ranch will primarily be used by Scouts on weekends, and throughout the summer, for activities toward Scout advancement programs. However, during the week, the Council plans to encourage others to take advantage of the unique space—and the outdoors—for corporate retreats, fundraising private events, and more. Ron says, “An organization like Hope House need only talk to us about their needs and we will make the space and resources available for their clients and families to help them meet their missions. We are about Scouts first, but we are excited about generating revenue from other groups that will help the Ranch become self-sustaining.”

Folks at Liberty Hill ISD, just five miles away, are particularly eager to get the chance to take students on fields trips for science and history education. Superintendent Steve Snell says, “We are excited to

Engineers, builders, and community leaders gathered at the Ranch for a tour and update on Phase developments. The monument at the main pavilion shares some history of the land and the families who lived there...

The Vincik family purchased part of the old Childress place in the mid-1980s. They lost a child on December 9, 1990 in a tragic horse accident. From that day forward, lives changed, and a lifelong process started to turn this unique property into a place of enjoyment and prosperity for young people. The name “Smilin V” was easy because their late son Shawn Alan Vincik would smile every morning while sleeping before awakening. The Capital Area Council, BSA continues to honor him with the name of the Scout ranch.

partner with the Boy Scouts to create new opportunities for our students when the world lets us out again. Looking at Ron’s vision, the educational opportunities and getting to the great outdoors, we are very excited about the path this Ranch is on and how much our students will benefit from it.”

The BSA Council has already been approved by the Health District to re-open, and are slowly adding activities beyond what Council can manage personally.

CITY SUPPORT

Liberty Hill Mayor Rick Hall said, “Whether it’s in the city limits, in our community, or our county, we are happy to help out. This wonderful place is for the growth of our community and we are already growing so quickly. Our school district is one of the reasons for that growth; we have so many kids coming to the area, and Ron has envisioned something great for them. It has been awesome to watch it all coming together, and I’m pleased to see we’re at a point where it is coming to fruition. I am grateful for all the support and dedication of all the people here; engineering, construction, and fundraisers.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Groups and companies are encouraged to schedule a tour of the property and take in their vision for the future. Ron adds, “We bought this for camp activities, but we look forward to the final roll-out of an amenity-filled location. There is great development to come and now is the time to get in on the ground level. Many business owners have been inspired just by their walk around the Ranch.

“We would love to have more partners, or skilled workers who can help with construction. Once we have completed our phases, there will be many opportunities for church or community groups to volunteer for upkeep, and maybe spend a day out in this pastoral spot while helping a great cause.” P.J. laughs, “This is the outdoors, so there is plenty to brush to be cleared, or chores to be done. We can always put people to work.”

You can keep up with their phase development or even reserve a campsite at BSACAC.org/activities. The Ranch will soon be available to anyone who enjoys the outdoors and wants to feel good about paying their venue fees to a great youth organization.

Photo Courtesy Capitol Area Council, Boy Scouts of America

Ron Garland and Mayor Rick Hall share thanks and remarks to close the tour Sept 29.

what makes texas “texas”

Say what you will, the traditional notions of gentility and feminine grace are still appreciated and practiced in many places. Not just in Texas, but all over the South. And, while we’re not here to debate the relative merits of pageant systems in the modern, progressive world, we cannot deny the significant impact of Texas style on major pageant programs.

As it stands, southern states have always made good showings in national pageants, partly due to those feminine notions, but also because, with agriculture being so much a part of the... ahem... culture, there have always been plenty of harvests needing a Queen to help celebrate local prosperity.

Texas can be proud of its record in the Miss America and Miss USA contests over the years. The first Miss Texas to become Miss America was Jo-Carroll Dennison (below) in 1942; she did a vocal and dance to “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” Jo-Carroll was also the first wartime Miss America; she traveled to visit defense plants, hospitals, and service camps, and sold war bonds. She later moved to California and signed with 20th Century Fox and became a successful actor. She was followed, at the national level, by Phyllis George in 1971, who played the piano. Phyllis went on to be a CBS sportscaster and first lady of Kentucky.

Texas last won the America crown in 1974, when Shirley Cothran played the flute for the win.

Since 1937, there have been 18 other bright young ladies who emerged as top ten finalists on Miss America’s big stage. But...

SOMETHING ABOUT TEXAS Texas held its own for many years in the Miss USA pageant, and in 1977, Kimberly Tomes of Houston brought home the Miss USA crown. Then, in the mid-1980s, things really clicked. When Texas won Miss USA five times in a row; all five times landing in the top ten at Miss Universe, it seemed as though the state beauties might have discovered a secret. Just six years later, a Texan won it all; 1995’s Miss Texas USA, Chelsi Smith, became Miss Universe. To date, Texas has earned the Miss USA crown nine times.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

Some may argue that Texas, like New York and California, has tens of millions of residents, so, naturally, they have a larger pool of talent from which well-prepared contestants can emerge. But, even with many to choose from, there is no doubting the hard work and preparedness of every contestant and preliminary winner across the state.

One such special lady is Brittany Tiner Deck, who was Miss Texas Teen USA 2002 and Miss Dallas USA 2010. Today, she lives in Round Rock, is enjoying a very successful career in finance, and is married with two beautiful children.

Brittany explains that perhaps it is a lot about numbers, but only in the sense that Texas girls know they

what makes texas “texas”

have to work harder for it. “It is statistically significant that national titles are won among approximately 51 contestants, and most Miss Texas winners will have already outscored more than 100 preliminary contestants to earn their state titles. Even at the first level, large pageants like Miss Houston USA often open with more than 200 contestants.”

Compare these numbers to smaller states like Hawaii and the District of Columbia; contestants there have better odds of winning a local crown but also, like less dense states like Wyoming or Alaska, they have a lower chance of being the best on the national stage.

Brittany explains, “Fortunately, for ladies in the larger Texas pageants, the winner gets to go on to compete for Miss Texas, but the runners-up are also awarded ‘sister’ crowns, and invited to compete at the state level as well. For example, if the Miss Georgetown USA preliminary had 200 contestants, the four runners-up would also compete at the state level, under the Georgetown banner, as Miss Williamson County, or Miss Hill Country. This kind of participation is what has made Texas revered in the system as a top five contender every year.”

She adds that whenever she visits the Miss USA pageant, everyone is always looking at Miss Texas before the show even starts. Proof? When Brittany was at orientation for Miss USA Teen, the directors asked her to stand up, and told the assembled state winners, “We want our winner to talk and walk and look like Texas.”

Still, after Texas’ run in the 1980s, competition in preliminaries was fierce. Some serious competitors applied to out-of-state colleges, or moved to other states where fewer preliminaries meant better chances of making it to the national stages and winning awards. Many of those ultra-dedicated and hardworking Texans gracefully walked away with other states’ crowns. Regardless of geography, many women still see the potential for career and life skills, and dedicate their time to honing their talents for the chance to pay for college, evolve in their

Brittany Tiner (Deck), Miss Dallas USA, preparing for Miss Texas USA 2010. Facebook/Brittany Deck

adult identities, and have a voice as an advocate. THE DIFFERENCE

As a top competitor for several years, Brittany shared insights about contestant commitment. “Texas is about football, but for women, it is pageants. And it is not just about ‘pretty princess.’ I really had no idea what I was winning at the time, but it is so much more than a title or a sash and my life is different because of it. Like many other Texas women, I dedicated a year of my life to the job, and it is no different than an athlete training to make a team, or elevate to the next level of play. I learned how to interview for any job, work with high-intensity people, and handle myself with poise in any situation. It’s not just something we say on stage, it’s about being well-rounded and, given the chance, I would do it all again.”

Among the benefits of being a Texas winner is the prize package. Once crowned, the winner’s team includes an interview coach, nutritionist, physical trainer, stylist, makeup artist, and a photographer. These teams are known to be the best in the industry, and it shows in the finalist lineups. Many winners from other states come here to recruit Texas experts in everything from coaching to styling. “We keep the best for ourselves,” Brittany says, “and the other vendors may go out of state to work. But we are truly the benchmark because everything will always be bigger and better in Texas.”

EDUCATION

by Charlotte Kovalchuk Photos courtesy Panther Pit Crew / Facebook

The Panther Pit Crew

Cooking up food, funds, and fun for Liberty Hill Students

Folks in Liberty Hill might be spread out, but as Clint Stephenson says, everyone comes together for Friday night football games. That’s how the Panther Pit Crew began its fundraising efforts for students —as a group of dudes who gathered simply to hold tailgate parties before games.

While attending his nephew’s games at Liberty Hill High School, Clint noticed something was missing before the playing started—camaraderie. So he, co-founder Scott Supak, and some friends started tailgating and cooking under the oak tree at the old high school stadium behind the Liberty Hill Elementary School. “We’d give away food and stuff and tried to change the atmosphere and bring the community together,” Clint says.

Later, when he pitched the idea of using their time to raise money for students, all 15 members immediately jumped on board. Thus the Panther Pit Crew nonprofit organization was born, so named for the school mascot, the smoking pit they love, and the fact that “We’re a bit of a motley crew,” as Clint says.

Member and past president Arthur Zamarripa described it as “a great group of guys who try to have a lot of fun, create camaraderie amongst each other, and raise money for various school organizations in Liberty Hill.”

THE 2020 PIT CREW

Today, about 30 members host raffles and golf tournaments to raise money for student groups at Liberty Hill schools. Each Crew member comes from a different background—whether it’s construction, medical, plumbing, or electricity—but one thing ties them all together, their passion for helping students. “It’s just a group of really good guys who like doing stuff for the community,” Clint says.

Throughout the year, the Crew holds tailgate parties pepped up by cheerleaders and the school

John Cearley, Panther Pit Crew president, in blue, sets up a meal with other Crew members at their 2020 golf tournament.

Crew member Michael Riley, right in white, and fellow golf team members are excited after winning this year’s Panther Pit Crew golf tournament.

band where student groups can earn points by showing their school spirit through games like corn hole, ring toss and pie-in-the-face. One fishing team even hauled a 30foot tank and spent the event catching fish.

Crew members have their own fun by cooking all sorts of delicious dishes, from buffalo chicken wings, rib-eye steaks, and jalapeno poppers to fajitas and deep-fried corn dogs. Although the tailgates take place before football games, the Crew is about more than just football—it’s about reaching out to all types of school clubs, from robotics and cross-country teams to cheerleaders and Project Graduation. Crew members recently provided $6,000 to four elementary schools that needed sprayers to sanitize equipment to comply with COVID-19 requirements.

During the final tailgate party at the end of the year, the Crew gives out money to groups, “One case where everybody gets a trophy is a good thing,” Clint says. This year, the Panther Pit Crew is trying to “make lemonade out of lemons” by figuring out how to distribute the estimated $20,000 they’ve raised while staying safe during the pandemic. They plan to organize a grant committee for student groups to request funding.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

To keep up with the Panther Pit Crew and to find out ways to donate, follow the group on Facebook or email lhpantherpitcrew@gmail.com.

facts to blow your mind

GOVERNMENT & HISTORY

In 1952, Albert Einstein was offered the position of the second President of Israel. He declined.

In the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches, the cathedral of St. Paul, and left 70,000 homeless; only 8 people were killed.

King Tut was born with a diseased/club left foot and was buried with 130 of his walking sticks. DNA testing revealed his mother and father were siblings.

John Hume was on the of musicians who died while playing on the Titanic. His booking firm sent a bill to his father two weeks later for a “lost uniform.” His father wrote to The Amalgamated Musician’s Union newsletter to tell everyone never to hire anyone from C.W. & F.N Black again.

The Parliament of Iceland is the oldest, still-operational parliament in the world. It has been in existence since 930.

The old Pony Express has been romanticized in modern times, but it was a financial failure. The mail delivery service actually lost an average of $13 for every item it carried, and went out of business in 18 months.

April 23, 1982. Key West in Florida declared it was seceding from the U.S. It declared war, followed by a surrender, and a request for a billion dollars of foreign aid.

While there are currently no female players in Major League Baseball, there have been plenty of women in professional men’s leagues. Lizzy Arlington pitched during the ninth inning for the Reading Coal Heavers in 1898 and won her team the game. A little over 30 years later, African-American Jackie Mitchell pitched against the Yankees during an exhibition game, striking out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Um... Mitchell was 17 years old at the time.

Think today’s athletes are overpaid? Roman chariot racer Gaius Appuleius Dioclese won more than half of his 1,900 races, earned $15 billion in adjusted winnings, and survived to retire peacefully at 42.

Zero-star Yelp review!

Should have just made a meme

belle chimes in

My modern life “fails”

The fact that I can’t recognize my girlfriends’ husbands unless they are standing right next to them tells me Superman knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s sad that, in the past, I really only critically evaluated the validity of news articles on April Fool’s Day. I have 2,800 songs in my iTunes library that I either paid for individually, or burned from CDs I purchased long ago. And I still shuffle through five or more tracks to get to one of, maybe... ten songs I was really hoping to hear.

Is it wrong that sometimes, on the first of the month,

I think about leaving my ATM receipt in the machine because I’m so proud the balance has a comma in it? It’s sad that having natural ingredients in food products is a selling point. It’s also sad that I don’t care. When I was growing up, Christmas was the most highly anticipated, colossal event that ever happened.

At my current age, it’s a deadline. In 2020, when I think about 1984, it seems like a

LOT less time has passed since then when, in 1984, I thought about 1948. Along those lines, we are just a hair shy of being halfway between Pearl Harbor and the year 2100. When I was in my 20s, I wore things I hoped would draw attention to me. At my current age, I kinda hope no one will notice so I can wear the same outfit again the next day. If I were a phone, I would be the worst model ever; eight hours of charge for 16 hours of use. Amazon and Fresh Fields have ruined any chance of me ever winning anything on The Price is Right.  I always thought The Macarena was dumb, but just watch me try to remember which pocket I put my keys in. I would be much happier if we could “fall back” for more like five hours this month and I could go to work at noon. For that matter, how about we move the clocks ahead an hour in the Spring around 4pm on a

Friday? All the modern communication in the world, and I still cannot convince my dogs that I will definitely be coming back. In case I didn’t already feel old, McCauley “Home

Alone” Caulkin is 40 this year, and the entire cast of

“Saved By the Bell” is nearly 50. When I was young, I always thought the best superpower would be “flight.” At my current age, it would just feel like exercise and I wouldn’t do it. I think the next big reality show should be “Flat-

Earthers: Looking for the Edge”. Then just enjoy watching them all lose their minds looking. I’ll even put up the prize money myself. I grew up with 8-tracks and rotary phones and still think it’s cool to have a 64Gb computer in my pocket.

Can you imagine what the world is going to have to invent to impress our kids? Somewhere in the world, there are probably 100 strangers who have a picture of me on a roller coaster. I have been through six Batmans in my life and all I can say about the next one is that, in my mind, Robert

Pattinson will always be a teenage vampire. Then again, most vampires do turn into bats eventually, right? We have amazing and fantastic conveniences and technology all over our homes. But laundry is still at least five chores in one.

Texas had it right the longest; a mode of transportation that would automatically avoid collisions, and take you home by itself, safely, if you were sleepy. (... as if I needed another reason to want a horse)

food

Gourd-geous Fall Foods

WHAT’S IN SEASON THIS MONTH?

APPLES

BROCCOLI

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

CAULIFLOWER

CITRUS FRUITS

CRANBERRIES

GRAPES

MELONS

MUSHROOMS

ORANGES

PEANUTS

PEARS

PEPPERS

POMEGRANATES

SQUASH

WATERCRESS

and... hmm, perhaps there was one more thing... PUMPKINS, MAYBE?

GENERAL TSO’S CAULIFLOWER 1 small head cauliflower 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon sesame oil ¼ cup water 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds  ½ teaspoon salt  1/8 teaspoon white pepper  1 cup rice flour  2-3c peanut or canola oil (for frying)

FOR THE SAUCE

1 tbsp peanut or canola oil 2 cloves garlic (finely minced) ½ tbsp Shaoxing (rice) wine 1½ tablespoons light soy sauce 2 tablespoons sugar 1 T cornstarch (mix 1T water)  2 teaspoons ginger (finely minced)  5 whole dried red chili peppers (opt.)  ½ teaspoon sesame oil  2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar  1 cup water (or chicken stock)  1 scallion (cut at 1/2” angles)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut cauliflower into 1- to 2-inch chunks. Mix cornstarch, baking soda, salt, sesame oil, white pepper, water, and ¾ cup of rice flour in a large bowl until it forms a batter. Toss in cauliflower and fold together until well coated. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup of rice flour over the cauliflower, and stir until everything is sticking to the cauliflower. Add a bit more rice flour to pick up leftover batter at bottom of bowl.

Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds evenly over cauliflower. Heat oil to 375° in cast iron pan or small pot. Fry cauliflower in batches until light golden brown and crunchy (about 3 minutes); transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Heat 1tbsp oil in wok over medium heat. Add minced ginger, let fry for 15 seconds. Add garlic and dried red pepper. Stir 10 seconds. Add Shaoxing wine, and immediately add sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar, and water (or chicken stock). Turn heat to low, letting entire mixture simmer.

For extra crisp, re-fry cauliflower in batches for about 20 seconds or until golden brown, and drain on paper towels. Add cornstarch slurry gradually to sauce while stirring constantly, let simmer for 20 seconds. Sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon.

Add cauliflower and scallions, and toss the entire mixture until everything is well-coated in the sauce, then serve.

food

BREAKFAST BAKED SWEET POTATOES (paleo-friendly)

2 medium sweet potatoes, washed 2 tablespoons natural almond butter 1 banana, sliced

Cinnamon  2 tsp chia seeds Sea salt

Preheat oven to 375°. Line medium baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Use fork to poke several holes in the sweet potatoes; place on prepared baking sheet and roast for 45-60min or until fork-tender. Remove from oven and allow to cool 5-10 minutes.

Once ready to eat, split warm sweet potatoes open with a knife and sprinkle with a tiny bit of sea salt. Next drizzle 1 tablespoon of almond butter, 1 teaspoon of chia along with banana slices and finally a sprinkle of cinnamon in each sweet potato. Serve immediately.

Photo: AmbitiousKitchen.com

WHITE CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLES

1 cup granulated sugar, divided 6 Tablespoons pumpkin puree 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice*  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract  1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)  1/4 teaspoon baking powder  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided  1/2 cup white chocolate chips or chunks

INSTRUCTIONS

Melt butter in the microwave. In medium bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/2c granulated sugar together until no brown sugar lumps remain. Whisk in vanilla and pumpkin until smooth. Set aside.

In large bowl, toss flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mix with large spoon or rubber spatula. Dough will be very soft. Fold in white chocolate chips. They may not stick to the dough because of the melted butter, but do your best to have them evenly dispersed in the dough. Cover dough and chill for 30 minutes, or up to 3 days.* Chilling is mandatory.

Take dough out of the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Roll dough into balls, about 1.5 T of dough each. Mix together remaining 1/2c granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Roll dough balls generously in cinnamon-sugar mixture and arrange on baking sheets. Slightly flatten the dough balls (cookies will only slightly spread in the oven).

Bake cookies 11-12 minutes or until edges appear set. Cookies will look very soft and under-baked. Remove from oven and press a few more white chocolate chips onto the tops, if desired. Option; flatten them with the back of a spoon when you remove them from the oven.

Cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack. (The longer the cookies cool, the chewier they will be.)

WORTH THE DRIVE

Texas Pumpkin Fest 10930 EAST CRYSTAL FALLS PARKWAY, LEANDER TEXASPUMPKINFEST.COM • OPEN DAILY 9AM-8PM THROUGH OCT 31 WEEKDAYS $5 / WEEKENDS $13

Texas Pumpkin Fest is a family-owned pumpkin patch that has been entertaining families since the early 1990s. Not only do they provide Texas-grown, food-grade pumpkins, the Patch includes family-friendly activities, games, face and pumpkin painting, rides, and vendors. Perfect for a family outing or a field trip, they are open every day until Halloween, and provide free and handicap parking.

SO MUCH TO DO

A variety of pumpkins and gourds are available for sale, beginning at $2 each, as well as corn stalks, hay bales, and more. There will also be several food trucks onsite, and many fall-inspired retail and craft vendors.

Families will have the opportunity to explore five acres of pumpkins and gourds, play a variety of Halloween-themed games and get lost in a maze. There are also selfie stations and photo ops all around the patch.

The Patch also hosts school field trips every day, which provides students an opportunity to experience the festivities of the season. Field trips may be scheduled for one-hour visits 9am-2pm on weekdays; everyone can enjoy their lunch on the Terrace. Student tickets are $7, parents & teachers are free, and everyone gets a pumpkin to take home. Get your trip on the calendar at 512-247-8978.

WHEN YOU GO

Organizers request visitors bring no pets or coolers. They also ask everyone to respect the pumpkins; no sitting on, kicking, or throwing the little guys, and treat all people with kindness. The Patch is also observing the Governor’s COVID-19 guidelines, so social distancing will be observed as much as is reasonable, and sanitizing stations should be utilized. Visitors must self-screen with regard to symptoms, and masks should be worn when visitors are not able to maintain 6-feet of distance.

Photos/Image: TexasPumpkinFest.com

PUMPKIN PATCH

TRACTOR RIDES ($3)

PHOTO OPS & SELFIE STATIONS

PUMPKIN PAINTING ($10)

ARTS AND CRAFTS

KIDDIE BARREL RIDES

FACE PAINTING

CORN HOLE

GIANT CONNECT-4

COUNTRY BOWLING

RING TOSS

VENDORS

REFRESHMENTS

FOOD TRUCKS

VENDORS

You can also visit TexasPumpkinFest on Facebook to win four tickets and $100 Pumpkin Credit.

Tag friends and Like their page; winners chosen weekly until Halloween.