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Church's Tradition Packs Crunch

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: October 15, 2008

BRANDON - There's another fall tradition in Brandon that can't be topped, and this tradition can indeed make a great topping for a Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole, German chocolate cake or double-chocolate brownies.

The 200-member United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church of Brandon is hosting its 38th annual pecan sale fundraiser, selling 5-pound boxes of fresh-shelled Georgia pecan halves or pieces for $32.

Proceeds from the sale go to local missions. They include Brandon LifeCare, which helps women with crisis pregnancies and new, struggling parents; the Emergency Care Help Organization, which provides food and clothing for residents with emergency hardships; and the church's mission schools in the Dominican Republic.

The women also are selling gift tins of chocolate amaretto pecans and pralines for $14 and an assortment tin for $17. Salted jumbo cashews also are on sale for $8.

Pecan sale chairwoman Barbara Brooks said the fundraiser has become a tradition not only for Brandon residents who love to bake during the holidays but also for those who simply love pecans or enjoy giving a gift they know will benefit everyone.

"Some people just buy them for themselves," she said. "They buy several boxes and freeze them because they keep all year long."

She noted that this is the United Methodist Women's only fundraiser. It began in 1970, when members bought 100 boxes of pecans to sell. They quickly sold all 100, and customers were clamoring for more. The sale has continued to grow each year. Last year, the women sold more than 2,800 boxes of pecans, not including the specialty gift tins and cashews.

PECAN PERFECTION

Here is Barbara Brooks' recipe for Rocky Road Crockpot Candy

•2 cups chopped pecans
•5-ounce block German chocolate

•12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

•24-ounce block almond bark melting chocolate

•2 cups miniature marshmallows
Place first four ingredients in a slow cooker in the order listed. Cover and cook on low for two hours. Remove cover and stir, adding marshmallows. Quickly drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and cool.

GO NUTS!

HOW TO ORDER: Prepaid orders for pecans must be placed by Nov. 1 by contacting Melissa Voelker at (813) 757-0734, Nancy McDonald at (813) 685-5081 or Barbara Brooks at (813) 689-7016 or bjbrooks@tampabay.rr.com. Orders for the specialty items can be placed only through Brooks.

HOW TO PAY: Checks should be made payable to the United Methodist Women and mailed to Brooks at P.O. Box 546, Lithia FL 33547.

HOW TO PICK UP: Pecans will be available at the church, 120 N. Knights Ave., Brandon, one block north of State Road 60 between Parsons and Kings avenues, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 15 and 17. Pecans that have not been prepaid will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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