Author: CircleMe

Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Parmesan Cheese

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fettuccine_alfredo_with_chicken
For a meal with a taste of Italian try Fettuccine Alfredo (read here other news). This is a dish to which one can add a variety of meats or seafood such as chicken and shrimp.

The recipe requires 12 ounces dried fettuccine,3 tablespoons butter, 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces, 2 large red or yellowbell peppers, cut into bit-size strips, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream,1/2 teaspoon salt,1/8 teaspoon black pepper 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and Fresh basil.

To prepare, first cook the fettuccine in a large pot and according to directions on the package, then drain and return to the pot and cover to keep warm. You can add a few teaspoons of vegetable or olive oil t the salted water to prevent pasta from sticking together.

Next melt butter over medium flame in a large skillet and add chicken. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until cooked through and no pink remains. Remove the chicken from the pot with a slotted spoon.

Add bell peppers to pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Then add whipping cream, salt, and black pepper and bring to a boil.

Boil gently, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat; add the 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese and cooked chicken. Add the cooked fettuccine to the pan, stir gently and serve with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

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Birmingham, cultural capital of the UK

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Birmingham (read here more news) is a city in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom and is the most populous city in England besides London.

There are several parks all around Birmingham with the largest being Sutton Park. There are several other well-known parks including Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Winterbourne Botanic Garden.

Birmingham is known for its Symphony Orchestra,Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and the Birmingham Opera Company.

The two major art galleries in the city are the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

Among the city’s festivals are the St. George’s Day party, Birmingham Tattoo, Birmingham International Carnival, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The city enjoys a temperate maritime climate which leaves it cool summers and cold winters Food is very important to Birmingham culture with the wholesale market selling meat, fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

The city’s well-known restaurants include Simpson’s, Turner’s, and Purnell’s. There is also a big Asian community and Asian food especially Indian and Pakistani is very popular. The city is served by the Birmingham Airport.

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Soundman Ray Dolby dies

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American inventor and audio pioneer Ray Dolby (read here other news about Ray Dolby) known for Dolby surround sound and Dolby Digital stereo has died at the age of 80 at his home in San Francisco.

Dolby, who founded Dolby Laboratories, was diagnosed with acute leukemia earlier this year. He founded the Dolby company in 1965 and it became a leader in audio technology. Dolby was instrumental in such things as noise reduction and surround sound technology and also created a number of technologies which are very often still used in music, movies, and the entertainment industries.

The work Dolby did helped to reduce the hissing sound in cassette recordings and he also did work on “Star Wars”.

The inventor had 50 U.S. patents and he also claimed a number of awards for his work, including several Emmys, two Oscars and a Grammy.

Dolby was awarded the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton and he was also inducted into the US’s National Inventors Hall of Fame and the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineers.

Last year the theatre which stages the annual Academy Awards was renamed the Dolby Theatre. The Ray Dolby Ballroom was also named in his honor.

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Podgorica Festival a hit

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The Electronic Beats Fall Festival got off with a bang with the first festival in Podgorica in Montenegro (read here more news about Podgorica). Some of the acts in the lineup were Disclosure, Mount Kimbie, and Retro Stefson.

The event was staged in a small sports stadium with not so great weather as there were a few rain showers.

Retro Stefson opened the concert with high energy from the eight-piece synth-pop group presenting music from their latest self-titled album which was released earlier this year.

Mount Kimbie, who also released their second album earlier this year, and are currently on tour in Europe and the USA, contributed to an already party atmosphere with soundtrack from the musical duo of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos out of London.

The sibling pair of Guy and Howard Lawrence, otherwise known as Disclosure, had a good-sized crowd by the time they took to the stage. Still only a few months after they released their debut album, the pair were eagerly awaited by the soaking-wet Podgorica crowd.

The Electronic Beats Fall series will continue with concerts in Zagreb, Croatia and Dresden, Germany later this year.

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Poached shrimp with Succotash

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Shrimp (read here more news about shrimp) is versatile and can be prepared in various ways with a variety of accompaniments including staples and vegetables.

The poached shrimp with succotash is one such meal which requires simply 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, 1 lemon, halved,1 pound large shrimp, peeled, 2 tablespoons champagne or white-wine vinegar,1 teaspoon Dijon mustard,1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided, 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut,2 cups corn kernels, 2 medium zucchini, diced medium, salt and pepper.

To prepare the dish first poach shrimp by combining 6 cups of water, Old Bay, and lemon in a medium pot. Bring to a boil then add shrimp and simmer until the shrimp is opaque throughout for about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, discard lemon, and place in a bowl.

Next toss the shrimp with vinegar, mustard, and 2 tablespoons oil. Then in a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high flame, add green beans and cook until bright green. Add corn and zucchini and saute until crisp-tender. Transfer to a platter, top with the shrimp mixture, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

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Toronto, multicultural masterpiece

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Toronto (read here more news about Toronto) is the largest city in Canada and one of the most cosmopolitan in the world. The city has over 20 miles of shoreline as it sits along Lake Ontario while it is intersected by three rivers.

The city’s humid subtropical climate means that it has warm, humid summers and cold winters

Among the sites worth visiting are the CN Tower which dominates the city’s skyline and is a tourist hub. Spadina House, the Casa Loma, and Wychwood Park are historic neighbourhoods.

Other interesting places to visit include the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Zoo, The Art Gallery of Ontario, Gardiner Museum, Bata Shoe Museum, Museum of Inuit Art, Toronto Sculpture Garden, and the Aga Khan Museum.

The Toronto International Film Festival is staged in the city each year as is the Canadian National Exhibition at the Exhibition Place.

Performing arts are very important to the city and worth seeing are the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Toronto’s best restaurants include 7 West Café which serves food in a laid-back atmosphere, The Peartree which serves ethnic delights, and the Ethiopian spot Nunu.

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English actor Hunnam lands lead in 50 Shades of Grey

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English actor Charlie Hunnam (read here more info about Charlie Hunnam) has landed the lead role of Christian Grey in the much-anticipated movie “50 Shades of Grey” based on the best-selling novels of the same name.

Dakota Johnson, the daughter of actress Melanie Griffiths and actor Don Johnson will play his leading lady Anastasia Steele.

Hunnam stars in the series “Sons of Anarchy” as Jax and was a regular playing a gay character in the British series “Queer as Folk”. The actor is also due to star in the film “Crimson Peak” alongside Academy Award nominated actress Jessica Chastain.

Hunnam has said the sex scenes will not be a problem and that his girlfriend Morgana McNelis won’t have an issue with his role but that she won’t be watching.

Meanwhile, another British actor, Daniel Radcliffe, known for playing Harry Potter in the seven-film franchise has refuted rumours that he missed out on the role of Christian Grey and has denied that he ever wanted the role.

The movie, to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, is to be released in cinemas next August.

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Clara Moto prepares for double release

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After spending three years away touring and working in the studio, Clara Moto (read here other things about Clara Moto) is preparing to return with the release of the five-track EP “Joy Departed” this month.

A second album “Blue Distance” will be released in November. The DJ spent the summer in the Canary Islands and travelled around Europe playing gigs and just exploring before returning to Berlin this month for the release of her first album.

Among the titles on the album are “Joy Departed”, “Disposable Darling”, and “For The Love WeLost” and in an interview with I Voice ClaraMoto said that many of the tracks reference literature or songs.

‘“Joy Departed” is from Edgar Allan Poe… and “Disposable Darling” is a line from Roxy Music’s “Every Dreamhome A Heartache”. That’s where I find my inspiration,’ she said.

ClaraMoto’s debut was “Polyamour” and she says the new material was all natural.

“That’s how I’ve been working over the last two years. I tried to make a lot of dance tracks but it ended up this way”, she said. ‘“Blue Distance” isn’t a dance album at all, really. It’s very satisfying having the freedom to do that.

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Roesti, potatoes with a twist

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roesti

Roesti (read other things about roesti) or Swiss hash browns, is a traditional Swiss dish which is mainly made of potatoes and was once eaten mostly in Bern but is now served all overSwitzerland. It often is used to accompany spinach and fried eggs.

To make you will need 1 pound large baking potatoes, 1 tablespoon salt, 3 1/2 ounces smoked bacon, thinly sliced, vertically, 3 1/2 ounces onion, diced, 1 sprig thyme, 3 1/2 ounces mushrooms, diced, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 ouncesbutter, and 6 slices Gruyere.

To prepare boil the potatoes in their skins for 20 minutes, drain, and cool and peel. Use a cheese grater to grate them into a large mixing bowl and add salt. In a frying pan, sauté the bacon and onions, add the thyme leaves and mushrooms and cook until soft. Combine with the potatoes and mix being careful not to mash them too much.

Heat oil in a frying pan and add 3 or 4 spoonfuls of the mixture then use a spatula to flatten. Brown it over a high heat. When the bottom side is cooked flip it over. Repeat with remaining potato mixture. Place 1/2 tablespoon of butter and a slice of Gruyere on both sides and melt under a hot grill.

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Zurich, city by the lake

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zurich

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and sits at the edge of Lake Zurich (read here more info about the lake) and sits high in the Swiss Alps.

Lindenhof is the city’s historic and geographic centre. The city is a hub of finance for both Switzerland and other countries in the world.

Places to visit include the Zurich Museum of Art, which holds the largest collections of classic modern art in the world; Swiss National Museum which has exhibits on the cultural; and historical background of the country; Rietberg Museum; Museum of Design; Tram Museum, and Guild Houses located along the Limmat River.

Three important churches to visit include the Grossmunster, Fraumunster, and St. Peterwhich has the largest church clock face in Europe.

Cultural activities in Zurich include the Zurich Film Festival which is an important upcoming international film festival staged annually. The city is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic and is served by the Zurich Airport and theZurich Hauptbahnhof which is the largest in Switzerland.

Switzerland is famous for its cheese and fondue is a traditional dish of the country. Adler’s Swiss Chuchi serves both fondue and raclette which is melted cheese with ham and potatoes. Sternen Grill is the city’s most famoussausage stand which also serves vegetarian options.

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