Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

The Facebook Conspiracy (Recipe: Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi)

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A few months ago, I finally got on the bandwagon and created a Facebook account. After years of hearing my nieces and nephews talk about it, I just figured it was some kind of trendy kids site. One night, my high school friend Julie convinced me that it was cool for us 30 somethings to do and I trusted her judgment and joined. I’ve really enjoyed connecting with high school and college friends plus people I hang out with now. It has also been a great way to keep up with my family members. Even my mom has a Facebook account now! It has taken me a few months to get the hang of things and of course, right when I think I have it all figured out, the brains behind Facebook go and change everything to some horribly confusing layout. I hate it.

After trying to figure out why Facebook would make a change that obviously did not need to happen, it hit me… you know what this change is all about? It is about all of us “old farts” invading the space of the kids. I read an article recently about “Grandpa Browsing Your Facebook Page” and how the older generations invasion of Facebook is turning some kids off of the website. I think that Facebook up and changed everything to confuse those of us who are old and set in our ways and who don’t manage change too well. They are trying to force us out by creating a layout that is so completely un-user friendly and ugly with the hopes that we will go back to our Bingo and Crossword Puzzles and leave Facebook alone.

Could I live without Facebook? Of course! Do I want to? Not really as I’ve enjoyed the connections I have made, but if it stays the way it is, I’ll be using it less and less.

Needless to say,  I am one of those people who have a really difficult time with change. Certain things need to stay the same or it throws my world off kilter. There are some things, like this yummy recipe, that bring a welcome change… a small change from the ordinary that brings something tasty into your life. Switching out the pasta I normally use when I make shrimp scampi for Orzo was a very good change – gave this scampi a whole new dimension of texture and richness.

As far as Facebook and the changes they made, I wish they would leave the customizing up to the users. As far as switching up your Shrimp Scampi recipe, take it from me… Cooking Light had it right when they created this tasty dish!

 

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Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi (from the March 2009 issue of Cooking Light)
Author Dine & Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked orzo
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt divided
  • 7 teaspoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp
  • 2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain. Place orzo in a medium bowl. Stir in parsley and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover and keep warm.
  • While orzo cooks, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle shrimp with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add half of shrimp to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until almost done. Transfer shrimp to a plate. Melt 1 teaspoon butter in pan. Add remaining shrimp to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until almost done. Transfer to plate.
  • Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in pan. Add garlic to pan; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in shrimp, juice, and pepper; cook 1 minute or until shrimp are done

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. KatieG says

    LOL! Love the “old farts” comment! I really don’t like the new layout either. Hope it’ll change since so many people are speaking out about it.

    Yummy looking recipe & pics too!

  4. Janet says

    This made me laugh! Being one of the old farts (at 45) one of the first things I posted on my FB page was how I hated the new way of doing things! Thank goodness for recipes like these though that take us back to the good ol days, huh?!

    Janets last blog post..Rambutan

  5. Claire says

    That shrimp dish sounds really good! As to facebook…I’m not a fan of the change, but the only thing (at least for me) that has changed is the home page and (ever so slightly) profile pages. To search your friends, photos, etc…it’s still the same. I don’t think it’s as clearly organized as it used to be.

    Claires last blog post..A Perfect Match!

  7. Michele says

    Just when I was thinking about starting another Facebook, this time for my blog, I’m turned totally against it by all the negative press it is receiving. I’m probably just using it as another excuse to not start one. 🙂 I’ve always embraced change, except for when it is super annoying. Think I’ll wait a while before doing the Facebook thing again.

    Micheles last blog post..Inspirations from this Week

  8. HoneyB says

    I think most people don’t like change – especially when what used before worked! At least for us “old farts” it worked. ;o)

    I can adapt to it. I like the connections I have made also – old school friends, current friends, and new friends. I probably won’t stop using, so they are getting rid of this old fart!

    The scampi looks delish and of course, I’m hooked because it is a Cooking Light recipe!

    HoneyBs last blog post..The show, blogging buddies, and food!

  9. Julia says

    I’m new enough to Facebook that I didn’t notice the change or feel bothered by it…

    But I’d rather talk about your shrimp scampi! That looks simple and DEE-licious.

    Julias last blog post..Garden Updates – Last Day of Winter

  10. LyB says

    Welcome home! 🙂 Hope your vacation was fun and relaxing. That dish looks just fantastic, I love shrimp, and with lemon, even better! As for the Facebook changes, I’m sure as with everything else, we’ll get used to them. 🙂

    LyBs last blog post..TWD – French Yogurt Cake

  12. Lisa says

    It seems so many of us, older farts than you, have just gotten around to using Facebook. I didn’t really know how to use it well before so the change didn’t have much effect on me. I’m sure it will change again in no time, anyway. Meanwhile I am running to try and keep up with all of these things.

    Lisas last blog post..Poached Pears with Red Fruit and Ginger

  14. Pat Wogan says

    A friend once wisely told me that the only persons who like change are wet babies. The shrimp looks delicious. Glad you enjoyed your vacation. We certainly did!

  15. cs says

    the new Facebook layout is definitely terrible. the last time they updated (which seems like it was just a few months ago) it was obviously about advertising. the old-new facebook incorporated a lot more advertising, and it became more obtrusive. now this. this one’s a bit more baffling – it seems as if they were trying to adopt the feel of Twitter (which, if you ask me, is a site with very few purposes beyond stoking vanity).

    the thing is, the people making these changes *want* the old farts. they want as many people as possible to join. this would have been before your time, but for the first few years, facebook was really just a site for those in college. you had to have an active .edu email to register. once they realized it was getting so popular that they could be making a ton more money off of it, they started letting everyone sign up.

    personally, i’m 26 – old enough that facebook long seemed like it was for people younger than me, and old enough that i shouldn’t care about such things perhaps – but i was not thrilled when my mother and my 60+ uncle added me on facebook, either. it’s not that i am doing anything scandalous on there, it’s just that it’s in many ways such a vain, frivolous pursuit, in my world anyway. a facebook profile, amongst my friends, is just a series of in-jokes and general nonsense. having your mother looking at it and asking you to explain things she saw on your profile and didn’t understand – it brings almost a sense of gravity to the whole thing that is not particularly welcome. let’s just say i’ve been using facebook less and less, even before this gross new change. 😛

    the shrimp, however, looks fantastic.

  16. Psychgrad says

    Mmm…orzo scampi. I always make shrimp scampi with linguine. I’m sure orzo would be great too!

    My parents are my Facebook friends. Doesn’t make a difference to me (mind you, I’m not in high school/university). But, I also don’t put private info on there or drunken photos.

    Psychgrads last blog post..Sugar Shack

  19. Laura says

    Funny- I dont like the new FB as much as the old, but it has grown on me a bit. I HATED it at first, now its tolerable.

    Recipe looks yummy! Will try with guests we’re having over next month. Thanks! 🙂

  22. Darline says

    even i don’t like the new layout, and i’m in my 20s. when it first started it was more for a college thing, which was great for me because myspace had been transformed for the teenyboppers and stalkers than for networking.

    in other things, i’ve never tried orzo with shrimp scampi (i’m more of a rice or fettucine girl) so maybe I should try it. if i used fettucine, would it still be good with a white wine cream sauce in place of orzo??

  23. maris says

    This looks so good – now I really want shrimp!

    mariss last blog post..Winging it with Puff Pastry: Brown Sugar Pinwheels

  24. Aimee says

    It just so happens I have all of these ingredients and will be making this this week! Thanks for helping with menu planning!
    Itlooks amazing.

    I use FB pretty much just for sharing photos with family & friends, so the layout doesn’t bother me, but I do think they are copying twitter.

    Aimees last blog post..Sugaring Off Part I and a Canadian Cocktail

  25. Delta Whiskey says

    I just can’t get into Facebook. I guess I thought the same way you did… it was for youngsters. Sorry it’s giving you such fits!

    ~Cat

    Delta Whiskeys last blog post..Week of Siblings

  31. Nicole says

    Ha ha ha! Well I guess I have been on FB longer than you but I had NO idea what it was when I accidentally signed up last May to look at a friend’s photos. I had never ever heard of it. I know. I know… REAL old foggie here! Totally not hip with the times! But I agree it is fun reconnecting. And even a bunch of HS girls got together and went to the Oprah Post Oscar show up in LA! One other girl works for Oprah and invited us. I had not seen most of these girls in 10 – 20 years!

    Your scampi looks great

    Nicoles last blog post..You’re Invited! An Open House Extravaganza!

  32. Coffee & Vanilla says

    That sounds really good, always wanted to make scampi 🙂

    Have a wonderful day and don’t forget to check out chocolate-making kit giveaway on my site 🙂

    Margot

  33. Asha says

    Hi Kristen, just read your comment. Been in Hawaii last week, loved it and came home Monday night, still tired from “vacation”!:D

    Yeah! My kids have face book too and finally opened one 2 months ago but never logged on again. Got to get in the fun later.Trisha is all ready for Chapel Hill, very excited but enjoying the Summer holidays now and son will be in High school.

    Bangalore in India was a haven for retirees 18-20 yrs ago, beautiful city and perfect weather similar to Hawaii. I was shocked to see the “progress” now when i was there, feel very sad for that city which has become a concrete jungle, filled with narrow high rise apartments, smoke filled and noisy traffic nightmare. Even my parents want to get out of the city who lived there for yrs. All in the name of progress, corrupt and not good city planning at all. I always missed that city all these years living here in US and now, felt so good to come back to our quiet small town America and to my family. Some went crazy after reading my post but I wrote what I saw and felt!! 😛

    Have a great weekend. I am on break until Fall. See you later! 🙂

    Ashas last blog post..Beloved Bengaluru & Mysuru, cooking Rainbow Red Chard and a long Summer break!