outta mind outta sight

My favourite passion is music, it’s been an absolute constant in all its forms and senses.
For the longest time, I have been a fan of the alt-country, no-depression band Wilco. I remember seeing an old videoclip where the band jump out of a small plane….playing their instruments….whilst in freefall! My immediate thought was how much I liked these funny jumpsuit-clad guys singing a song about being Outta Mind, Outta Sight as they hurtle to earth.
I love their bittersweet lyrics wrapped in summery melodies and Jeff Tweedy’s sad voice. And they're not afraid of evolving - their recent albums represent a sonic and lyrical expansion. Bit too much noodling for mine, but kudos to the band for not remaining static. Lately, the ears have had a big bash of ‘Summerteeth’ and ‘Kicking Television: Live in Chicago’ - if only they would tour in the southern hemisphere soon!

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My lovely sibs presented me with a set of jewellery pliers for Christmas and I have been spending an inordinate amount of time at the bead shop. Although this fanaticism does not quite match the thrills of the Button Bar in Adelaide, I do enjoy looking at all those jars of beads, pretty glass and gorgeous resin-type beads. Who would these suit – too fancy? not fancy enough? And how would I put it together anyway?!
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So I have been listening to Wilco and creating little projects over the summer. All that practice at the microscope performing dissections has really helped with fiddly wire work!

Not A Food Blog

Dead set!

Soon I will get my act together and start uploading some non-food related projects I have been working on.

In the meantime, this recipe was enjoyed over the summer in the Mallee and featured our good friend's gargantuan zucchini.

Good picnic food for a lazy summer's afternoon too methinks.

Zucchini Slice
1 tbsp butter
1 onion, diced
2 rashers bacon, diced
3 large zucchini, grated (400g)
60g pecorino cheese, grated
60g parmesan cheese, grated
1 C SR flour
4 eggs, lightly beaten
salt and pepper

Preheat oven 180ºC
Melt butter in pan, cook onion until soft and translucent
Add bacon and cook for 2 more minutes
Remove and cool

Combine bacon, zucchini, cheese and flour
Add eggs and seasoning

Spoon mixture into greased shallow dish
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and spongy to touch

Too good not to share…

Chocolate Nut Brownies

150g butter
180g chocolate
2 eggs
1C brown sugar – caster sugar ok
75g self raising flour
75g plain flour
150g chopped nuts eg walnuts, pecans, roasted in oven ~8 minutes
1 tsp coffee optional
1 tbsp cocoa optional

Preheat oven to 180ºC.
Lightly grease a 20x30cm tray and line with baking paper.

Sift flours, coffee/cocoa and combine with roasted chopped nuts in a bowl.

Gently melt butter and chocolate, stirring until combined. Leave to cool.
Whisk eggs and sugar together.
Add chocolate/butter mixture to eggs/sugar mixture.

Add wet mixture to dry ingredients, gently fold.
Pour into greased tray.
Bake at 180ºC for 20 minutes, or until brownies begin to come away from the side of the tray. Brownies should be slightly soft and gooey when fresh from the oven.
Gently remove from tray and cool on wire rack

Brownies are best cut (and eaten) when warm.
Dust with icing sugar or cocoa to serve.

Stored in an air tight container, brownies will be good for a week - if they last that long.