Weekend Baking Adventure : The Hacked Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie

I'm not pro at baking, so when I hear there's a tried and tested recipe testimonial, I go for it, especially when it is my favourite Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie. I remember the first time I smelled the aroma of the freshly baked cookies from a Famous Amos kiosk somewhere in a Singapore mall. It was heavenly and ever since then I'd follow the scent and buy a pack of 200g of cookies wherever there is a Famous Amos kiosk. At that time, it was only available in Singapore, and not in JB. Now, I can say they are in almost all the malls in JB.

When this post went viral on social media recently, I knew I had to try it.

The verdict? It didn't produce the familiar aroma but it does really taste like the real thing. SO. GOOD. The boys approve.

Here's the recipe:

• 250g butter
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup corn flour
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sodium bicarbonate/baking soda
• 6 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• Almond nibs (optional)

1. In a bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, vanilla essence and egg. Mix well. 

2. Add the vegetable oil. Mix well.

3. In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients ie. flour, corn flour, baking soda and baking powder, and then add into the 'wet' batter. Mix well. (I learnt that baking soda/sodium bicarbonate is different from baking powder! I read about it here)

4. Add the chocolate chips and mix well.

5. Refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30min.

6. Preheat oven at 150°C, coat baking tray with some butter.

7. Roll cookie dough into small balls and place on the tray with some distance from each other.

8. Bake for 20 min until cookies turn golden brown. (I modified to 160°C for 30min)

Enjoy!

Handmade Face Masks

I made more masks.

Kid's masks

Stay safe!

Matching Top and Face Mask

Just end of last year, I went to the Festival Kraf Johor held every year next to the Angsana Mall and I bought these pretty fabric. 

Now made into matching boxy top and face mask.

There is enough to make a tote bag too, and pouches! This is going to be the new trend...

How to Sew a Cup Style Face Mask with Pocket Sleeve for Disposable Filter - Easy Tutorial

Here are the instructions on how to sew a cup-style face mask with pocket sleeve to insert disposable filter pads. I did not include nose wire as I felt the shape fits quite nicely if it is snug and tight enough. If you would like to include nose wires, you can check out CraftPassion blog, which is where I got the template from.

Here we go!

First, download the template from here and print it in actual size. The template includes sizes for men, women, young child (7-12 yrs old) and small child (3-6 yrs old).

Cut out the size you want. If you're going to make a few, I suggest cutting a fabric template so it is easier to use. Here, I use the downloaded template but extended 2cm more at the straight side. This extension is for making a loop for the elastic cord. Also, allow an extra 0.5cm for hem, so that means the fabric you cut is slightly bigger than this template.

Cut out 2 extended size for outer (front) layer, and 2 original size for inner layer. Do take note of the right side wrong side of the fabric, they have to mirror each other.

Now, place the fabric with right sides on each other and sew the curve edge.

Then sew a hem on one side of the inner fabric. Only one side.

Open up the outer layer that was sewn at the curve. Press the seam allowance on one side and topstitch near the seamline.

Looks like this after topstitching. Repeat this for the inner layer.

Now place the inner layer on top of the outer layer with right sides facing each other. Sew along the top and bottom.

Looks like this on the other side.

Turn it inside out.

Press down the seams flat and topstitch near the seam lines.

Looks like this after topstitching the top and bottom seam lines.

On the side with the hem which was done earlier, fold the the raw edge over...

...and fold again so that it meets the hem nicely . This is called double-fold and this creates the loop for the elastic cord.

Alternatively, you can attach the cord and sew it in directly. If it's time to change the cord when it has become stretchy, you can unpick the re-sew a new cord. 

Here, I double-fold with the cord inside so I don't have to go thread in the cord later.

Topstitch the fold as close as the side as possible. This is to create a bigger loop to thread in a new cord in future.

Repeat the double-fold kung-fu for the other side.

Ta-da! Now you can adjust the elastic cord length according to your preference. Other than going around the ears, you can loop through a strap or twill to tie around the head. I find this more comfortable if you're wearing the mask for long periods of time as it won't strain the ears.

You can insert a disposable filter pad or a dried wet wipe as a non-woven layer for protection.

The hem side is where you insert the filter pad.

 I bought the elastic cord and filter pad from Lazada.

Enjoy your mask-making adventure!