The Best Band in my world

I think everyone has a band or an album that marks a turning point in what they listen to and how they 'view', hear and appreciate music. For me, the band is Wilco, and the album is Yankee Wilco Foxtrot. I remember vividly my first bitterly cold Easter in Wellington, when I trudged to the Paramount (I think) to see the doco based on the recording of that album. Filmed entirely in black and white, it made me fall in love with Chicago, Jeff Tweedy, and the album even more. The album itself is so richly layered that even now, after craploads of listens, I pick up little nuances, hidden sounds, and get the same somewhat-wistful-but-mildly-uplifting feeling I got when I first heard it. Actually, I think when I first heard it I was probably a little astounded. But now I get the aforementioned feeling.

I actually got to see them play live when I was in London, at the Shepards Bush Empire- a brilliant venue. They are just as good live, but with more wit.

One thing that the doco showed was the gradual fallout between Jay Bennett and the rest of the band. He did seem to have a definite personality to him, and from what I can gather the animosity continued between him and Jeff Tweedy- Jay sued him for breach of contract around the doco last year. And this weekend Jay Bennett died, age 45. He was involved with my other favourite Wilco album, Summerteeth too, so I just wanted to acknowledge him here... even though I am more of a Tweedy fan if truth be told.

So, in honour of his passing, a few Wilco links-slash-videos:

I am Trying to Break Your Heart


Jesus etc - probably not one of my top fives, but I found this lovely little cover by a Swedish band - in Swedish. Norah Jones also does a cover, but I decided a Swedish band was far more Exotic than an American.



And, finally, the Wilco website. You can listen to love recordings, and marvel at the Camel on the cover of their next album.

Happy listening! And RIP Jay Bennett.

Cooking with Steph - the grovel recipe

Let's not talk about how lame I am in my blogging. Just make this, eat it, and thank the heavens I started blogging again.

I don't know if it is because I am getting older, but I really am an advocate for top quality baking products. I don't give a rat's arse if you go for the cheapest tinned tomatoes, but my lord you can taste the difference between a great quality cocoa or chocolate, compared to a crap one. I recommend the Green & Blacks cocoa, which you can get in NZ from Homestead Health (not that it is healthy at all). Try it in the saucy bit of a simple Edmonds Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - nom nom nom.

One other note on this recipe: the biscuits. The original recipe I found called for Shortbread, but I used the Farmbake Hokey Pokey Biscuits, which were pretty rad. I guess you could get all fancy and make your own biscuits to use, but if I make a nice batch of biscuits there is no way in hell I am smashing that up! It's worth experimenting with types of biscuit I reckon - let me know what you try...

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you
CHOCOLATE CRUNCH HEAVEN

Ingredients:
1/3 C cream
450g dark chocolate, chopped (the darker the better baby)
130g butter, chopped up
250g biscuit chunks
Top quality cocoa powder, for dusting

• Line one of those narrow loaf tins with baking paper.
  
• Melt and combine the cream, chocolate and butter on a low heat, stirring constantly. If you burn it, it will taste like pants.
• Chuck your biscuits in to a mixing bowl and gently stir in 2/3 of the chocolate mix.
  
• Put this in to the tin, then pour the remaining mix over the top. Tap the tin on the bottom and the sides after to remove any bubbles.
  
• Pop in the fridge to set for around 3 hours, or overnight if you can handle it - basically until it is set.
• To serve: invert the tin, remove the slice, dust with some good cocoa & cut in to slices. Pop your knife in to a cup of hot water before slicing for a nice smooth cut.

Don't think about what is in it, and savour every melting bite!