Texas Pecan Hand Held Pie Bars

This recipe is a bar cookie recipe. It is fairly simple to make, and will go over great at any party. You can serve them on a nice platter or serving dish if you wish. The bonus to this recipe is that they can also can be served on napkins if you wish, they are a hand held treat if you so desire.

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First the pie crust:

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1 ½ sticks of butter

2 cups all purpose flour

½ cup of packed light brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

Preheat your oven to 350F degrees. You will combine all of the ingredients in a food processor, and mix. You will stop mixing when the mixture it starts to become small crumbles. If you do not have a food processor you can us a hand-held mixer. You will then, add the dough mixture into an un-greased 12 by 12 inch baking pan, and press the dough into the pan until it is uniform and flat. You will bake for about 10 minutes and turn 180 degrees in the oven to ensure even cooking, and then cook for about another 10 minutes until it is golden brown, so about 20 minutes total. I would check during the cooking process just to make sure it is not getting overcooked.

While your crust is baking you will want to get started on your Texas Pecan Filling:

2 Cups of crushed Shelled Pecans

1 Stick of unsalted butter

1 Cup packed light brown sugar

1/3 Karo Syrup

First, If you do not have crushed or ground pecans you will need to grind them in a food processor, or by hand. In a sauce pan, melt the butter, and then stir in the brown sugar, Karo Syrup. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stir frequently, and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes. You will start to stir in the pecans, and make sure they are completely covered with this sugary mixture. Take the sauce pan off of the heat. When the crust is ready, pour the pecan mixture over the top, and make sure it is spread evenly. Then, bake the pecan pie bars for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Make sure the Texas pecan pie bars are completely cool, this is a must, before you cut them into about 24 pieces. If they are not cool the liquid will run out and the bar will be dry.

Texas Pecan Hand Held Pie Bars

Chef Shelley Pogue, a Cum Laude, Le Cordon Blue graduate and Executive Research and Development Chef, for Vertical Sales and Marketing, San Ramon, CA. Shelley is also the desserts editor for BellaOnline.com

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Baking and Pastry School

One of the most popular jobs in the hospitality industry is the pastry chef and to obtain this job you will need to attend a quality baking and pastry school. These schools will provide you will all the knowledge and skill required to work and succeed in the food industry. Getting the top job will still require dedication and hard work, but with a degree from a world class school you will be ahead of the pack.

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For those that want to be bakers these schools will provide you with courses to qualify you for a job as a baker. This job entails much more than baking bread such as; making pastries, pies and other delicious pastry and bread products. With a baking qualification behind you it is possible to get a job anywhere in the world!

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While almost every community college offers baking and pastry courses there are some world class pastry schools that will give you a great boost to your career. Le Cordon Bleu is the French culinary school with a world renowned pastry chef degree. Some of the most famous chefs have come from this school including Americas own iron chef Mario Batali.

If you are interested in becoming a pastry chef or a baker then it is a good idea to compare the different courses offered by the many cooking schools. Choose a school that will provide you with the training and degree you will need. It is a good idea to have more than one school on your list in case you need a backup option.

Baking and Pastry School

Find and compare the best baking and pastry schools at the authors cooking school website by clicking here

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Are You a Gourmet?

What exactly does it mean to be a gourmet? Does watching public television cooking shows on Saturday morning while folding the laundry count? How about being fascinated with Julia Child and having all of her cookbooks on your Amazon wish list? Knowing what zest, garam marsala and charcuterie mean, does this qualify you as being a gourmet? Where did the term come from and what exactly does it mean?

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A gourmet is someone with a discriminating palate who is savvy when it comes to fine food and drink. The word comes from the French word groumet which defines a person in charge of the wines at a meal. While this definition is a start, most people think they have a discriminating palate, but discriminating between a Big Mac and a Whopper probably doesn't count. What exactly are gourmets discriminating about? Who decides what is and isn't gourmet? From my research, I have come up with three things that qualify a person to call themselves a gourmet. While not an exhaustive list, qualifying in each of these three categories is a good indication that you can call yourself a gourmet.

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If you still don't own a blender because you are saving up for a Waring or refuse to brown your bagels in anything other than a Dualit toaster, you are good in the first category of gourmet, knowing your equipment. Note that I don't say you need to own this equipment to be a gourmet, just know what it is and have a sincere desire to own it all someday, like when you win the lottery and can actually afford it. A few of the necessities in a gourmet kitchen include a Cuisinart food processor, Emilie Henry bakers, All-Clad pots and pans, Viking range, SubZero built in refrigerator, Kitchenaid mixer, Espressione espresso machine, Wusthof knives, and a Polder thermometer and timer. You will also need to include fine china, silver cutlery and beautiful table linens. Doing some calculations from the Williams Sonoma site (which should be one of your favorite places to shop), a fully equipped gourmet kitchen including service for 8 would come to over ,000.00 This figure doesn't even start to cover the many food items you should have.

That brings us to our next category, food. Do you know terms such as foie gras, sevruga, gravlax, fleur de sel, truffles (not the chocolate kind) and herbes de provence? Have you ever eaten any of them? If you can answer yes to most of these, you are a definite gourmet. A good gourmet kitchen will be stocked with the finest wines, caviars, cheeses, produce, meats, breads and pastries. It will also have multitudes of herbs and spices as well as liqueurs and natural extracts. Hundreds of volumes of cookbooks are also a necessity and must include authors such as Jacques Pepin, Simone Beck, James Beard and of course, Julia.

The last area that defines a gourmet is drive. This means wanting to constantly learn more about fine foods and wines. Taking vacations to France and Italy are a start as well as visiting wineries, fish markets and farmers markets everywhere you go. Food should be an obsession, not just a past time. Magazines such as Saveur, Cuisine, Cook's Illustrated, Fine Cooking, Gourmet and Bon Appetit should dot the landscape of your home. You should also have a strong desire to take cooking classes and cooking vacations and your ultimate dream would be to one day attend "Le Cordon Bleu" cooking school in Paris. Yes, knowing French is a strong plus.

If you can say you qualify in even two of these categories, I would say you are a budding gourmet. Three would mean you are definitely a gourmet. Now that you have qualified yourself as such, don't hesitate to share it with others. Remember, however, that they may want you to actually cook something for them since they assume all gourmets can cook. This, however, was not one of the qualifying factors, so don't feel pressured if actually using your gourmet items scares you. Instead invite them to a gourmet restaurant and correct their pronunciations of items on the menu. Knowing the equipment, understanding the names and tastes of the foods and having the desire to cook someday is all you need to be a gourmet. Besides, who has time to cook when you are so busy learning to be a gourmet?

Copyright 2006 Emma Snow

Are You a Gourmet?

Emma Snow is a gourmet and freelance writer. Writing for Gourmet Living http://www.gourmet-living.com and BBQ Shop http://www.bbq-shop.net .

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Orlando Florida Luxurious Vacation Resorts

Orlando Florida is recognized around the world by many as one of the dominant top "Hot Spots" for a family vacation. Our Theme Park attractions, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, are just some of the many things to do while visiting Orlando. If you love golf, Orlando has some of the top Signature Golf Courses featuring top PGA and LPGA tournaments. If beaches are what you're looking for Daytona and Clearwater Beaches are minutes away.With picture-perfect weather, you and your family are guaranteed to have an electrifying vacation with memories lasting a lifetime..

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Take Your Pick Of The Top Orlando Resorts

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The Ritz-Carlton Orlando

The Rolls Royce of Resorts. Ultimate luxury immediately comes to mind when the Ritz-Carlton is mentioned. In this case, the Orlando Hotel shares 500 acres of resort with the JW Marriott, featuring tournament-level golf courses on site, spa services for guests, and in the rooms, panoramic views of the entire resort. You'll never be far away from your needed internet connection as well, since the whole hotel is wired via wireless LAN. The hotel is also in close proximity to Disney World and Sea World, just ten and two miles, respectively.

Reunion Resort & Club of Orlando, is the Ultimate in Luxury! Reward yourself in Style and Elegance. Used by Fortune 500 Companies and the nation's most influential, you too can take advantage of what Reunion Resort has to offer. Once you enter the facility you'll be mesmerized with it's stunning views

Where excellence is a tradition, there are countless hours of entertainment, and fun for the entire family. Catch the excitement ...Bring you're "A" game, show off your golf skills, play 18 rounds of golf, on one of our 3 Signature Golf Courses designed by Hall Of Fame legends Nicklaus, Palmer, Watson.

The award winning amenities at Reunion Resort are tailored to fit your needs. If your looking to relax and unwind, obviously, you'll have no trouble in doing that. Situated through out The Resort are restaurants and bars designed to complement its surroundings from our casual (bathing suit friendly)poolside sports bar, to the truly grand scale Forte.

Eleven, a rooftop lounge located in Reunion Resort Grande, serves tapas and small bites from around the world- an electric fusion of new World and Asian Cuisines. Eleven provides a panoramic view of Reunion Resort. Watch live nightly the firework display at near by Walt Disney World.

The Marriott Orlando World Center

200 Acres of Resort Grounds in the Marriott Orlando World Center are perfect for anybody on vacation or attending conventions and wanting to mix their business trip with pleasure. There is also a golf course on site, and a spa to help relax during your time out. This resort is slanted more toward convention purposes, featuring 214,000 square feet for meetings and conventions.

The Villas of Grand Cypress

Avid golfers will love the idea of staying at the Villas of Grand Cypress. Aside from hotel accommodations in complete luxury, this golf resort offers 45 holes worth of golf courses. Designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus, the site is a must-see for golfers on vacations. Aside from that, the Grand Cypress also has an equestrian center to let guests experience the joys of horseback riding in the resort.

Numerous other activities are also available, like jogging and fitness clubs on the resort grounds itself. There is even a golf academy for those who want to learn golfing during their stay at the Grand Cypress.

The Marriott Orlando World Center

200 Acres of Resort Grounds in the Marriott Orlando World Center are perfect for anybody on vacation or attending conventions and wanting to mix their business trip with pleasure. There is also a golf course on site, and a spa to help relax during your time out. This resort is slanted more toward convention purposes, featuring 214,000 square feet for meetings and conventions.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Whether its golfing, tennis, swimming or sailing, you can take your pick at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Also available are horseback rides throughout the entire grounds, so you can have fun in the outdoors, riding a horse to experience the fast travel on an animal built for speed. Also relaxing is the spa service here, where you can unwind and let go of all the stress built up in your body.

Whether it's staying purely at the resort, or checking out the local attractions in Orlando, you can be sure to have a good time when staying at vacation resorts here. Resorts are located strategically near tourist attractions so that you can be sure that everything you want to see in Orlando, Florida is within reach. For your summer, Orlando Vacation Resorts are a sure bet for your summer getaway trip.

Orlando Florida Luxurious Vacation Resorts

F. Lanni is a top producing Realtor in luxurious real estate market.

http://orlandoreunionresorthomes.com

http://orlandoreunionresorthomes.com/blog

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Dining Out in Orlando - From Budget to Fine Dining

One of the pleasures of any vacation is trying out the cuisine of a particular locality. If Orlando is your vacation destination then you will have a wide choice of restaurants to choose from. It would never be possible to give a complete survey of the dining possibilities in Orlando or any city in only one article but here is a sampling of low budget and high budget restaurants that have proven popular with visitors to Orlando.

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Since I am writing this during a time of economic recession let me start with the low budget restaurants. These are places where you can get a good meal but not dent your wallet too much.

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Bubbalou's Bodacious Bar-B-Cue Ribs

Bubbalou's Bodacious Bar-B-Cue Ribs are the main dish here, and this restaurant has been voted as Central Florida's best barbecue restaurant by readers of the Orlando Sentinel. The food is cooked on an open pit and there is more than just spare ribs on the menu. You can also get barbecued chicken, lamb and smoked turkey. Beware of the special hot sauce that is served here, it is really hot! You can find this barbecue restaurant at: 5818 Conroy Rd., Orlando, FL 32819

Thai Thani

The food here is not native to Central Florida, but it is authentic Thai food served up in an atmosphere that will transport you to Thailand. If you are already a fan of Thai food then you will want to dine at this restaurant, and if you would like to try out Thai food to see what it is all about, then this is a great place to do it.

Hard Rock Cafe Orlando

If you have been to the other Hard Rock Cafes around the world then you will know what to expect here, reasonably priced food in a rock 'n' roll themed environment. Orlando's Hard Rock Café is located in the Universal Studios CityWalk area and it is the biggest café of this worldwide chain and also has the largest collection of rock memorabilia in the entire chain. If you like munching on a hamburger and gazing at an original guitar from one of your rock heroes, then be sure to visit Orlando's Hard Rock Café.

Now let's look at some of the higher-end restaurants that are popular with local residents and visitors alike.

Hemingways

As long as you are in Florida then you might as well get into the magic of one of Key West's most famous residents, the writer Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's is decorated with the rods and reels, stuffed trophy fish and nautical trinkets of the writer who gave us the classic "The Old Man and the Sea." The cuisine is regional and includes coconut shrimp and paella. A typical meal will cost you about . The restaurant is located at Lake Buena Vista 1 Grand Cypress Blvd

California Grill

If you want to go to a restaurant voted as Orlando's most popular, then this is the place for you. You can find it on the 15th floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort. The cuisine is supervised by a famous chef, Cliffor Pleau, who is constantly at work creating new dishes. In addition to fine dining you also get a bird's eye view of the entire Disney theme park. The attire is strictly informal and you can dine in your shorts and Disney tee shirts. The price of a typical meal is .

Christini's

As long as we are talking about high-end dining let's finish with a restaurant where the prices are high even by expense-account standards. This restaurant is known for elaborate meals and its huge wine list. The dining takes place in an extremely romantic setting with musicians strolling about. You will think that you having a night out in Italy. If you want to impress someone and can afford to spend around for a meal, then head on out to South Orlando 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd.

Take note of these restaurants and give them a try when you visit Orlando, choosing according to the ones that best fit your taste and your budget

Dining Out in Orlando - From Budget to Fine Dining

Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of Quality Villa Rentals and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Homes and villa rentals at this website http://www.qualityvillarentals.com

ORLANDO

Take Some Tennis Lessons in Orlando

Florida is the land of great tennis and is the home or training headquarters of many professional tennis players. If you are planning a vacation in Florida you will certainly find good facilities for playing tennis. However, rather than just hoping that the proximity of the tennis greats will rub off on you, you can take some positive steps to improve your game by taking some lessons while you are in Orlando.

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Here are some of the places where you can take tennis lessons while vacationing in the Orlando area:

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No Limits Tennis Performance at The Winter Park Racquet Club:

A wide variety of tennis instruction is offered at No Limits and this includes group and private tennis lessons, programs for juniors and adults, summer tennis camps. In addition,

ATP and WTA players are on hand for professional coaching.

The academy is located at the Winter Park Racquet Club, a facility which is known to have one of the best sets of clay courts in Central Florida. The club is situated at 2111 via Tuscany, Winter park, FL 3200 and the phone number is (407) 259-8944

Grand Cypress Racquet Club - Tennis Academy:

This academy is part of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cyprus Resort in Orlando. They offer tennis instruction ranging from a beginner's program right up to programs for amateurs who are regular tournament participants. Their Tennis Academy I program is called "Finding the Zone" and is designed for beginners and their Tennis Academy II is for intermediate to advanced students who want to refine "playing in the Zone."

Both programs include five hours of private or semi-private instruction, complimentary use of the ball machine, complimentary court time, use of demo racquets and game matching service. If you go as a four person group then the price is 5 per person. A three person group will cost 0 per person and complete private instruction costs 9. For more information contact the academy at (407) 239-1234. The resort is located at One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, Florida, USA 32836

6th Sense Tennis Academy:

Here is a newly opened academy which is guided by Justine Henin and Carlos Rodriguez. The academy is part of the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-In-The-Hills and offers programs for adults, juniors and mini-tennis (for kids as young as four years old). The mini tennis program is a comprehensive course that extends for 15 weeks. The adult programs offer the possibility to train over weekly periods or weekend periods.

The weekly adult program includes two hours of Tennis Training on court from Monday through Friday and costs 0.00. It is also possible to get your training done in intensive weekend session consisting of three hours daily on Saturday and Sunday for 0.

The academy is located at Mission Inn Resort & Club. 10400 County Road 48, Howey-In-The-Hills, FL 34737 and you can get information about the tennis program by contacting a.devos@6senstennisacademie.com

As you can see these programs are not cheap but they do offer a high level of instruction in luxurious surroundings. If you are ready and able to learn tennis from professionals, then these academies are just for you.

Take Some Tennis Lessons in Orlando

Janice McSherry is an Orlando vacations specialist. Visit her website for great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals [http://www.homesneardisney.us]

ORLANDO

Orlando Vacation Rental - Orlando Luxury Vacation Villas

Orlando luxury vacation villas should allow you to enjoy your well-earned holiday in the most luxurious Orlando vacation rental homes that Florida has to offer. Whether you are visiting Orlando with your family for a visit to Disney World, or with your partner or buddies on a golfing trip, you will be seeking accommodation offering you something different from that you are used to.

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Orlando has great deal to offer, and although it best known to many for Disney World, the fairy-tale complex was not sited in this part of Florida by accident. The climate is ideal for a vacation, and the area offers lots to do and see, such as Gatorland, Universal studios and a host of golf courses in addition to all the night-life you want. It is one of the world's best known vacation destinations.

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If you are used to the best that life has to offer, why should your vacation home in Orlando offer you less? If you are like most of us, and enjoy a bit of luxury once in a while, just check out what Orlando vacation rental villas have to offer. Just as Disney can satisfy the imagination of your children, Orlando can cater for your imagination in what you might want in your vacation home.

If you want a pool and Jacuzzi or spa, you've got it. No need to share a pool with an entire hotel - you can have your own with a short term Orlando luxury vacation villa. You can also rent a town house, condo or estate villa in its own extensive grounds or as part of a complex. How about a gourmet granite kitchen, home cinema and entertainment system, or fantastic floors made of marble? You deserve a bit of luxury while on vacation: you have worked all year for it so why not pamper yourself?

Sure, if you are used to luxury you can likely book a top class hotel, but why cram yourself and your family into hotel rooms when you can enjoy the comfort of a proper home. You can enjoy the privacy and peace and quiet that you cannot get in a hotel, and many people opt for vacation estate villas just for these reasons. If the thought of cooking makes you shudder you are not forced to use the kitchen since Orlando boasts some of the best restaurants in the world.

There is a wide range of Orlando luxury vacation homes available for short term rental, with villas of up to eight bedrooms on offer. Such properties also offer up to eight bathrooms, and most have pools and spas with other luxury facilities. Considering the number of shopping malls and restaurants available in and around Orlando, these are genuine alternatives to hotel rooms. In fact the rooms tend to be larger and better furnished than the average hotel room, and many people prefer them.

Little wonder, then, that Orlando vacation rental villas are increasing rapidly in popularity, and if you take the current economic situation into consideration then they are suddenly compellingly attractive. You get a lot more for your money with a vacation villa in Orlando than with a hotel Normally, if you want experience the luxury that these Orlando luxury vacation rentals offer, you would have to book into a top class hotel at a fairly high room price. However, that need not necessarily be the case with a villa since the relative costs depend on the size of your family or party. This is easier to understand if you consider how the system works.

These villas are designed to offer luxury, and are decorated and furnished to a very high standard. The pool, spa and entertainment facilities have been previously mentioned, and some also offer a games room including a billiard table. Yet others are part of a complex, offering a gym, restaurant and other communal facilities.

You pay for the vacation villa by the day, irrespective of the number in your party up to an allowed maximum. For example, a typical 6 bedroom Orlando vacation rental villa sleeps 12 people at a cost of 5 daily during the summer and less the rest of the year, except special times such as Christmas. Compare that with the price of hotel rooms for 12 people and it is clear why this type of vacation accommodation is becoming increasingly more popular.

Add to that the privacy that your own villa offers, the peace of not having noisy people enter the room next door in the early hours and the increasing financial pressure being placed on families as the credit squeeze tightens and money becomes scarcer, and it is little wonder that the proposition is so attractive to so many people.

If you intend to vacation in Orlando this year or next then you will find Orlando vacation rental villas available close to Disney and to Orlando itself, and also near all the major tourist attractions in this part of Florida. You will not be disappointed with any of the Orlando luxury vacation properties available for short term rent.

Orlando Vacation Rental - Orlando Luxury Vacation Villas

Mark and Susan Whichard are Orlando tourism experts and write frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Orlando's Finest Vacation Homes and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.orlandosfinest.com.

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