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A 7th grader at First Academy-Leesburg Christian school was listed in critical but stable condition after a golf cart incident Friday night in Fruitland Park, officials said. View the full article

A Weston Marine sergeant who spent seven grueling months jailed in Mexico on gun charges is "living in the moment" and grateful for everyone who pushed for his release, his family says. View the full article

A team of 12 National Transportation Safety Board investigators will probe the cause of a deadly Virgin Galactic space crash that left a 39-year-old pilot dead and his co-pilot headed into surgery. View the full article

A Port Orange woman forced her children, a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old, to drink toilet cleaner, then drank some herself in a suicide attempt, police said. View the full article

The record-setting $200 million race for governor and a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana have pumped up the stakes for Tuesday's election, but many voters still may stay away. View the full article

It was almost easy to forget Saturday's chill as the gold-bodied Chinese dragon danced around itself, bringing good luck and blessings to the new Wah Lum Temple Cultural Center and museum. View the full article

Former President Bill Clinton will campaign with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist at the University of Central Florida Monday afternoon. View the full article

By now, most Floridians are so sick of election season they would rather receive electric shocks than watch another campaign ad. View the full article

An Orange County church official remains in custody after he was charged by federal officials for allegedly having child porn. View the full article

Like many Orlando theater- and concertgoers, Audrey Lentz has wished for a new performing-arts center for a long time. View the full article

Some days Amber Larkin seeks refuge in the bedroom of her son, Noah. His Star Wars action figures still line the shelves. His Lego sets cover the desk. There is an unopened gift. View the full article

Anybody who has lived or played in Florida likely has been called out by a finger-long lizard that taunts people with bold stares, push-ups and throat flexing. View the full article

A runaway horse on Interstate 95 was shot late Thursday, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. View the full article

A 2-year-old boy was struck by a bus and killed while trick-or-treating with his grandmother and neighbor Friday evening, a Polk County Sheriff's spokeswoman said. View the full article

Too much leftover Halloween candy? You can sell it to dentists to be donated to troops overseas. View the full article

Our Halloween celebrations at Disney Parks around the world finally came to a grand finale last night, on October 31. GalleryThis Week in Disney Parks Photos: What a Halloween! view allFrom Mickey’s Halloween Party and Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland park and Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Walt Disney World Resort, this year’s festivities had a lot of fun to offer guests. Be sure to click through the gallery above for a full look at the fun! The pumpkin carvers at the Halloween Carnival in Disneyland park continued creating Disney Side-inspired masterpieces. Check out some of Paul Hiffmeyer’s favorites in this slideshow. And now…it’s onto the holidays! This Week in Disney Parks Photos: What a Halloween! by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

With a full week plus a weekend, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, going on right now at Walt Disney World! Welcome to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Today, I’m back to tell you about one of the Food and Wine Festival Special Events I had the opportunity to attend recently. While I love spending time strolling the Promenade around World Showcase and taking in all of the fantastic food and drink, there’s so much more to the Festival than the International Marketplace Booths. Each year, I also enjoy attending a sampling of the Low Cost Demonstrations and Seminars as well as Festival Special Events. And one of the biggest highlights is enjoying time with chefs whom we’ve admired in an up close and personal way! Recently, I was given the opportunity to attend Food For Thought, a Festival Special Event that’s new for 2014. Replacing the Kitchen Memories series from past years, Food For Thought events allow guests to hear the story of a favorite chef before he or she walks the audience through a demonstration of dishes. Food For Though at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival I was so excited when I learned that one of my favorites, Chef Rick Bayless, would be rejoining the Festival line up after an absence of several years! Bayless is the Chef and Owner of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo in Chicago, in addition to a collection of quick casual dining spots. In addition, he’s about to begin the tenth season of his critically acclaimed PBS cooking show Mexico — One Plate at a Time. You can also find his line of Frontera Food Products throughout the country. My Place Setting Join me as we listen into his conversation with Disney’s Pam Smith, and watch as he puts his apron on and provides us with a dose of kitchen wisdom via authentic Mexican flavors. Food For Thought with Chef Rick BaylessMy husband and I have followed the career of Rick Bayless for a while. We were first inspired to explore authentic Mexican cuisine by cooking our way through his books. Having the opportunity to hear more about his journey in such an intimate setting was a great way to spend the morning. Food For Thought with Chef Rick Bayless and Disney’s Pam Smith If you’ve watched his PBS series Mexico — One Plate at a Time, then you know that Chef Rick excels at telling a good story and conveying the excitement of an experience. That combination, along with his wry sense of humor, made for an interesting chat session. Having grown up working in his family’s restaurant, his passion for Mexican cuisine was born out of his study of and love for that country’s rich culture. Chatting with Chef Rick Bayless Soon, however, it was time to turn our attention to the food! At that point, Chef Rick and Pam made their way to the exhibition kitchen for a demonstration of the food and drink we’d be sampling. Cooking DemonstrationWhile a big draw of Food for Thought is getting to hear the backstory of a culinary notable, the event also makes for a delicious morning, as the featured chef shares a few of his recipes. Menu It’s always fun to see what the suggested pairings are for courses during an event. Typically, guests enjoy a few different wines with tasting portions of dishes, but on this occasion, we had the chance to enjoy a beer pairing instead. A glass of Negra Modelo stood at each place setting. Negra Modelo Beer Normally, servings are tasting portions, but we enjoyed a full glass of beer as we’d be pairing it with each of the three courses. In addition, we learned how we might use the beer to create a delicious Fall-themed drink! Let’s check it out. Mexican Snakebite CocktailAs we were shown to our seats, Cast Members passed out Mexican Snakebite Cocktails. While we began enjoying them long before Chef Rick took the stage, showing us how to prepare them was his first order of business. Recipes for each of the dishes as well as the cocktail were provided as part of our event program. Here’s a shot of the Mexican Snakebite Cocktail recipe so you can make the goodness at home! Mexican Snakebite Cocktail — Ingredients and Method Historically, a snake bite is a beer cocktail made with a mixture of lager and cider. Hard, or alcoholic cider, is typically preferred. However, we were after a lighter drink that showcased the complexity of Mexican flavors rather than high alcohol content, so Chef Rick opted for Fresh Pressed Cider. He suggested that you might want to use a local, unpasteurized variety if you live in an area where you can find such a wonderful thing. He gave the cocktail a Mexican twist by adding Tamarind Pulp, which has a bright, refreshing fruit flavor. You can find prepared tamarind pulp in the frozen section of some large grocery stores and Mexican markets. But he also demonstrated how to make your own, starting with how to choose the right Tamarind Pods and prepare the pulp from scratch. Discussing Tamarind Working on the Tamarind Pulp I love that Disney has these handy overhead cameras and monitors to display just what the chef is doing. It really is like being on set for a cooking show. A Chef’s Eye View! He then blended the pulp together with Apple Cider. Blending Tamarind Puree and Apple Cider To serve, he added the Cider Mixture to a glass and added the Negra Modelo. And behold — the finished product! This cocktail has terrific balance, and it’s light enough to serve your guests as soon as they arrive. The tamarind brightened up the flavors, and the caramel notes in the Negra Modelo really complemented the fresh apple cider. If you prefer a sweeter mix, or would like to bring out more of the apple flavor, Chef Rick suggested that you add a little sugar to the mix. Mexican Snake Bite Cocktail Made with Negra Modelo Beer We will definitely be making this one at home! It’s a perfect Fall apple drink, especially for warmer climes like Florida. Grilled Corn and Poblano GuacamoleIt wouldn’t be a Mexican party without a little guacamole, right? And that’s the dish we turned our attention to next. For the event, we sampled Grilled Corn and Poblano Guacamole. Incidentally, be sure to read through these recipes. You get a sense of Chef Rick’s writing style, which I just love. It’s conversational yet educational, and really makes his books a joy to read, even if you aren’t looking to cook. They have literary merit on their own. Grilled Corn and Poblano Guacamole — Ingredients Grilled Corn and Poblano Guacamole — Method This also is a great time to discuss ingredients. A cooking demo with Rick Bayless is peppered with practical information. Earlier, as we showed you, we were given the run down on how to prepare tamarind, and the difference between tamarind in Mexican and Asian or Indian dishes. Here, Chef Rick is discussing different types of Avocadoes, and how this fruit is grown and handled. Discussing Avocadoes Next up, he demonstrated the proper way to use a juicer — by flipping the lime half upside down. That way you won’t get so much juice in your eye, down your shirt, and so forth. (C’mon. We’ve all been there.) How Not to Squeeze Lime Juice In Your Eye He also demonstrated how to grill the Corn and Poblano Chile and explained that Cilantro can be substituted for Epazote if you can’t find the latter. Grilled Corn and Poblano Guacamole The finished Guacamole was delicious, with an earthy bite from the roasted Poblanos. Chicken Tinga Tostadas with Avocado and CheeseNext, we were treated to a demonstration of Chicken Tinga Tostadas. Chicken Tinga Tostadas — Ingredients and Method A mixture of Shredded Chicken, Tomatoes, and Chipotle Chile Salsa, it’s a versatile filling that can be thrown together in a snap for tostadas, tacos, or just about anything you’d like! As he prepped onions for the dish, Chef Rick took the opportunity to impart more fundamentals of Mexican cooking. Use White Onions when cooking Mexican cuisine. The flavor of white onions is sharper and cleaner than their yellow onion cousins, which tend to impart a somewhat “muddy” flavor to dishes. Slicing White Onions Again, that handy “Chefcam” saves the day, as ingredients come together to simmer. Preparing Chicken Tinga The finished dish was mildly spicy, smokey, and full of flavor. Chicken Tinga Tostadas It’s a great recipe to add to your repertoire — quick and easy for weekday home-cooked meals! Frontera’s Chocolate Pecan Pie BarsFinally, we came to the sweet ending of the meal. We were treated to Frontera’s Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars. What, you were expecting churros? Chef Rick explained that, although Pecan Pie is pretty much an American thing, you’ll find versions of it in Mexico. This particular recipe, or some variation of it, has been a staple of the Frontera Grill menu for more than 20 years. Frontera’s Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars — Ingredients Frontera’s Chocolate Pecan Pie Bar — Method Isn’t it gorgeous? And it’s every bit as delicious as it is beautiful. And I was really surprised at just how perfectly it paired with the beer! I hadn’t given much thought to pairing beer with sweets, but the caramelized flavors matched the brown sugar sweetness of the dessert perfectly. Frontera’s Chocolate Pecan Pie Bar After the presentation concluded, guests lined up to meet Chef Rick and have pictures taken. His latest book, Frontera — Margaritas, Guacamoles, and Snacks, was available for purchase to autograph. Rick Bayless’ Latest Cookbook He was also happy to sign the publicity pictures that were made available. OverallI thoroughly enjoyed this event. Although I’m fairly familiar with his style and many of his recipes, I really enjoy seeing him in a setting like this; he’s very personable and passionate about his craft. I always leave an experience with him feeling like I’ve learned something, but it’s more than that. I haven’t just learned — I’m excited about what I’ve learned. The pairing choice of beer with the entire meal was also interesting to me. While we’ve enjoyed our share of Modelo Especial here at DFB, I hadn’t experienced Negra Modelo before (though I know AJ’s husband likes it!). I really enjoyed the body and deeper flavor of the darker beer, especially this time of year, as days shorten and temperatures begin to dip. I’m glad that Disney continues to offer events like Food for Thought to round out the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. It’s always a good day when you can learn something. And when the lesson is delicious as well? Even better. Will you be making any of these fantastic recipes from Chef Rick Bayless and Food for Thought? Leave a comment and tell us which ones sound good to you! DFB author Brooke Fehr attended this event on behalf of Disney Food Blog courtesy of the event’s sponsor, Negra Modelo. However, she was not obligated to report on the event or provide a positive review of the experience. Read more about our Disclosure Policy here. Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan No related posts. View the full article

TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida GOP raised more than $65.2 million over the last two months, including more than $12 million collected from Gov. Rick Scott's personal wealth. View the full article

A Mexican judge on Friday ordered the immediate release of a Marine held behind bars since April 1 on weapons charges. View the full article

Running off at the typewriter … View the full article

On Saturday, October 25, the city of Anaheim presented its 90th annual Halloween Parade. The Disneyland Resort was well-represented in the festivities by Disney Ambassador Sachiko White and Donald Duck, resplendent in his wizard costume. Pulling their carriage were two of Circle D Corral’s finest steeds. Take a look at our video, which shows the preparations necessary to get parade-ready as well as shots from the parade itself. Disneyland Resort Horses Star in Anaheim Halloween Parade by Donna Fisk: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

On Saturday, October 25, the city of Anaheim presented it's 90th annual Halloween Parade. The Disneyland Resort was well-represented in the festivities by Disney Ambassador Sachiko White...From:Disney ParksViews:122ratingsTime:01:32More inTravel & Events

Earlier this week, we shared the latest in our series of amazing free hand “light painting” artwork in the air with colored LED penlights. The Halloween-inspired art was so popular, we’re sharing a special wallpaper created especially for Disney Parks Blog readers. Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it. There are more great “light painting” images to see in our original post. Celebrate Halloween with a Disney Parks Blog ‘Light Painting’ Wallpaper by Thomas Smith: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

It sure looks like a Happy Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland, where guests are enjoying “Disney’s Haunted Halloween” celebration. GalleryIt’s a Happy Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland view allAll month long, guests have been meeting Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes, attending spooky stage shows, enjoying special menu items and snapping up special Halloween merchandise. For a look inside the celebration, be sure to click through the gallery above. It’s a Happy Halloween at Hong Kong Disneyland by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Happy Halloween! If you didn’t get a chance to visit Frontierland and enjoy the Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree, check out the amazing pumpkin carvers and see their fantastic creations in the slideshow below (these are some of my favorites). Which pumpkin is your favorite? Happy Halloween from Disneyland Park by Paul Hiffmeyer: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article