Tie me a bow

Lawyers don't wear bow ties. They wear suits and short skirts and robes and wigs and things... or so 90s television tells me. And they're so busy in the court room by day and sleeping under mountains of paperwork at their mahogany desks by night, that surely they don't have time for regular crafternooning.

However, one Brisbane lady - a lawyer-to-be, but a busy bee nonetheless - is super fond of slotting in some craft time whenever a gap amongst the serious stuff appears. Yenzo makes fancily versatile bow ties, for the collar, as a necklace and even as a hair bow. And she's made so many of late that we've got three to give away, huzzah! Simply email your name/address to winstuff{at}seammagazine{dot}com to be in the draw. But remember - first in, best dressed! Yenzo also stitches up the cutest handmade critters - scroll through her blog to ooh and aah at them all. We like the french monster and forest creatures.

Hope you all have a swell (and un-sweltering) weekend ahead of you!

Tastebud Tuesday: Pecan Pie French Toast

Photo credit: Always With Butter

The humble pecan pie is a favourite in my family. Whipped up for birthdays and christmases, it's the first 'sweet' that springs to mind when that special day's menu is being planned. So I was delighted to stumble upon this recipe for Pecan Pie French Toast on favourite food blog, Always With Butter. Any recipe that takes a classic dessert and turns it into a breakfast option gets my vote. These tiramisu pancakes are another fav of the sort. But careful, both recipes are highly decadent!

Filling

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups pecans, chopped
2 eggs, beaten

Toast

8 slices of french bread
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp sugar
Icing sugar to dust

Method

1. Filling - In a large saucepan over med/high heat, combine butter, sugar and syrup. Bring to the boil. Stir frequently at a boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in pecans and vanilla. Let cool completely. Stir in the eggs. Return to heat and let boil for 2-5 minutes until thickened. Let cool.

2. Toast - Heat a skillet, coated with butter or spray to medi/high. Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, salt and sugar. Soak each slice of bread for 30 seconds. Cook each side until golden brown, 2-4 minutes.

3. Spread the filling evenly on 4 of the bread slices. Top with the other slice of bread. Place on a baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius. Let cool slightly and serve with a dust of icing sugar.

So this is the new year

Illustration: Sandra Suy

I've never really done new year's resolutions before, or if I have I probably didn't stick to them long enough to complete/remember/succeed at them. But I figure, why not start now! A new year is always a good excuse to kick into gear all those extra-curriculars you've been dreaming of starting. Here's our little list so far...

1. The usual - Exercise more! Workloads and busy lifestyles often get in the way of this regular yearly commitment, but we kicked off this morning with a brisk walk that left us huffing and puffing in the current Brisbane heat wave. And this week is definitely a good week for starting new things, with dance classes at Queensland Ballet recommencing this evening. I'm popping my pink slippers on again for the first time in 7 years in hope of better posture, a stronger core and some twirling fun.

2. The artistic - Fashion illustration is something I've always wanted to learn, but there never seems to be a class for it. Luckily some arty fashion-y ladies over at The Stitchery Collective have started up clothed life drawing classes to practice and improve your sketchabilities. The classes are running every Tuesday night this month.

3. The crafty - more crafternoons! Last year I had planned to make LOTS of stuff. This never eventuated. This year, however, will be full of sewing, knitting, crocheting and cross-stitching. I'll hopefully even get so confident with my regular crafting that I'll take my projects out in public to Piece Together's Stitch n' Bitch evenings. The first one is on January 19th at 7.30pm.

4. The literary - read more! I have an ever-growing enormous amount of beautifully written, interesting books in my house (the piles practically spilling out the windows), but I never seem to be able to read them as a fast as new amazing books come out. So this year I plan to always have one (maybe two) books on the go. The soon-to-be-read pile on my nightstand currently contains Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Vagabond by Colette, Colette's biography, and The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.

Hope you're all having a swell new year!