FAS, Job Clubs, Food and Drink, Shrimp

I just wanted a picture up here so I put the Indigo Bunting in first place. This morning on GMA, they talked about a rare disease called, Foreign Accent Syndrome. There are dozens of cases even though it is rare, where because of some injury to the brain a person has started to talk as though they were from another country, with a foreign accent. Weird I'll tell you. On the show they interviewed one woman who sounded French, another British and a third Russian or possibly Scandinavian. GMA had recordings of the voices of all three prior to this happening, usually voice messages on phones etc. and they all had normal American voices prior to this happening. A lot of people say they are faking it, but they aren't. One woman (who sounds Russian) can no longer pronounce her daughter's name and had a hell of a job saying the name Phyllis. If you would like to read more click here to read what Wikipedia has to say about it. One of the topics this morning was The Great American Job Fair where they are helping people who have been laid off find jobs. GMA has formed a Job Club and are telling you how to start your own. The link can be found here for today at least. The theory is that it is very difficult to "go it alone" and a job club will help give all its members the support they need including maybe turning your hobby into something profitable. The more I hear about the current job situation, the more I am glad to be retired. Wot no pictures this morning, not really possible is it? Yesterday we went out to lunch. As I mentioned, the fire bells were being tested and were driving me mad, so we went down the road, I had an excellent pepper soup and Caesar salad, Matt had a half Reuben sandwich and Caesar salad. I had never had a Reuben til we came here, but I assume they are now available elsewhere. Because of the bells we went shopping, first to Vincenzo's which is a local delicatessen store where they have everything from everywhere. We bought some Brie de Meaux which I have raved about before, a huge jar of capers, (our local store only had tiny jars of tiny capers) some real Mascarpone (i.e. with no bean gum in it which sweetens it) and some grape (vine leaves) to make dolmas with for our Christmas party. We then went to the local LCBO (liquor store) and stocked up on wines as we had been getting pretty low. We also picked up the Food and Drink magazine that they issue several times a year and there are some excellent recipes in it, as usual, some of which we may be able to use for our Christmas party. Its going to be all nibbles and finger foods etc. as in Spanish tapas and Greek mezzes. One recipe I really liked the look of was Spiced Shrimp with Cool Citrus-Yogurt Dip. I think it was kind of meant as a midnight feast item after everyone has gone to bed except you and your spouse. You pop open a bottle of bubbly and eat these shrimp. Spiced Shrimp with Cool Citrus-Yogurt Dip This low effort dish is spicy-hot and sweetly cool like spending a winter's eve by a roaring fire. To get out of the kitchen faster, buy peeled and deveined shrimp and choose tail on for elegant gripping and dipping. Frozen shrimp are fine, thaw overnight in the fridge. 3 Tbs 2% yogurt 1 tsp sweet paprika 1 tsp ground coriander seeds 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper 1/4 tsp ground green cardamom seeds 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp lemon zest 1/2 tsp finely chopped ginger (don't use powdered, its not the same) 1/4 tsp finely chopped garlic 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on, approx. 20 - 25 pieces Kosher salt Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine yogurt, paprika, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cayenne, lemon zest, ginger and garlic in a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Add shrimp to yogurt mixture and marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge. Remove shrimp from fridge 10 minutes before cooking. Lay the shrimp out in a single layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet and season with salt. Bake in preheated oven for 6 to 7 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and are just cooked through. Serve shrimp warm with Cool Citrus Yogurt (recipe follows) for dipping. Cool Citrus Yoghurt Dip Super simple and cooling, this pretty sauce can be made even prettier by using blood oranges, in season now (in Canada anyway my comment). 1/2 cup ful fat Balkan or Mediterranian style thick yogurt 2 tbs freshly squeezed orange juice 1 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tsp orange zest 1/4 tsp ground fennel seeds 1/8 tsp chili flakes Kosher salt Combine all the ingredients except salt. Stir well with a whisk. Season with salt to taste. Transfer to a serving dish and keep chilled until ready to serve. Makes just over 1/2 cup. Have a great day.