DIY Envelope Liners

| San

envelopeinserts // mono+co envelopeinserts // mono+co

Followed these instructions to make DIY envelope liners: a simple and low cost way to decorate my otherwise cheap and plain “$1-for-20” white envelopes.  Had extra pattern papers for lining the smaller brown ones too!

And because I used budget envelopes (paper is of the thinnest quality, not Conqueror type) for this project, I could not disassemble the envelopes without tearing them up.  I overcome this problem by simply outlining the envelope with its flap up on the pattern paper, cut this out, and then trim 1cm away only around the flap border.  After that, Insert the liner into the envelope and apply glue on the underside of the pattern paper to secure.  It might not be as neat as if you were to following the original instructions, but hey, no one is going to disassemble the envelopes just to check either!

I find simple monotone pattern papers work best for this project.  You can print your own envelope patterns like these, or browse around here and here to download free paper patterns for personal use.

DIY Honey Peanut Butter

| San

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Do you know that by running roasted peanuts in a food processor for several minutes, you’ll get peanut butter?

No lengthy list of ingredients or instructions.  It is interesting to see the peanuts being transformed into a smooth paste within 5 minutes.  I make just enough to be consumed within 2 days using a handful of peanuts.  It will take slightly more time to process for larger servings.  I stopped short of letting them becoming too runny as it is more difficult to use as a bread spread.  As a drizzle for waffles or pancakes, I will process them longer.

I do not add salt or oil, like most recipes online, as I use ready roasted salted peanuts.  Make sure you get the skinless ones.  Honey is added towards the end of the blending process to make it tastier for the kids.   After reading this, I might even consider adding chocolate chips for my next batch.

Brown Bag Makeover

| San

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The brown bag is one of my favorite gift packaging material for food and goodie bags.  Using simple decorating embellishments such as a pretty ribbon or a gift tag, the bag can look too pretty to be opened up.

Sometimes, the content that you are putting inside the bag can make an interesting decoration as well, such as these nostalgic biscuits from biscuit king.  I showed them off by adding a see through window on the brown bag.

Simply put a small cutting mat inside the bag, and cut out “window” with an X-Acto knife.  I think the round “window” makes the best looking one.  After that, decorate to desire with embellishments.  I used really minimalistic looking ones like round buttons, and neutral color washi tapes, so that the packaging would not look to “busy”.

Rojak Salad

| San

rojak salad // mono+co

rojak salad // mono+co

The 油条/fried dough fritters stall near my place is really popular on weekends.  People buy them to dip in black coffee, pork porridge, mung bean dessert, or simply eat the fritters on their own.  Since the waiting time was almost 1 hour, I bought extra for homemade rojak salad, to make the wait more worthwhile.

It’s really easy if you already have the ready rojak sauce like this, or you can also try to make one at home.  There are variable ingredients that can be used for rojak, depending on what you have in the pantry, or what you like.  I used local turnips (correct term is jicama), canned rambutans, pineapples, and the dough fritters of course.  The rojak stalls will usually include beancurd puffs, mango, cucumber and bean sprouts, topped with a generous tablespoons of ground peanuts.

Mid-Year School Exam

| San

examschedule

The mid year exam is starting really soon.  I up-cycled a “horse racing calendar” and turned it into a customized calendar/ exam schedule.  Other items used: brown paper and neon post-it notes (to state down the exam dates and the topics / practice papers we need to go through.)

Took a snap before the dates and plans are written on, it can get quite messy with all our last-minute catch up!

Homemade Chocolate Brownies

| San

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This recipe from Alice Medrich (via The Amateur Gourmet) makes brownies that are crusty on the surface and chewy inside.

// Shopping List :

  • 10 tablespoons (140 grams) unsalted butter,
  • 1 1/4 cups (250 grams) sugar
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (65 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, cold
  • 1/2 cup (65 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup (75 grams) walnut or pecan pieces (optional)
  • 8 x 8 inch  baking pan
  • Parchment paper

// Instructions : The Amateur Gourmet

DIY Ikea Pello/Poang Chair Felt Cover

| San

diy ikea pello cover // mono+co

Our trusty 10 year old Ikea Pello armchair badly needs a new cover, but the price (starts from $50 for the most basic fabric design) made it difficult for me to decide, when I see a brand new Pello costs only $69.

Since there was nothing really wrong with the frame structure, I decided to sew the cover myself.  I found some ready-cut felt cloth (70cm x 60cm) in gray (I used four) and a ball cotton lace yarn in matching color within the craft section of Daiso. Total bill came up to just $10.
Here’s my plan to put the 4 pieces of felt together.

diy ikea pello cover // mono+co

diy ikea pello cover // mono+co diy ikea pello cover // mono+co diy ikea pello cover //mono+co

I kept the original cushion + cover inside as stuffing.  I hand-sewn the entire thing with back stitch, did not take too long as there was no cutting, or detailed measuring required.  The dimension of the ready cut felt cloths fits wonderfully well, and the cover was still removable for washing (or replacing) in the future.

6 “Instant” Sauce Recipes Always On My Mind

| San

DIY Instant Sauce Recipes // mono+co

Making an effort to memorize these 6 recipes:

  • Sweet And Sour // via
    2 tablespoons Tomato Ketchup
    1 teaspoon Plum Sauce
    1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce (Lea & Perrins preferred)
    1 teaspoon Oyster Sauce
    1 teaspoon Sugar
    4 tablespoons Water
    Great with : diced chicken meat, pan fried firm tofu, capsicum, lettuce, cashew nuts
  • ‘Jing Du’ 京都 // via
    1 1/2 tablespoons Tomato Ketchup
    1/2 tablespoon Plum Sauce
    1/2 tablespoon Chili Sauce
    1/4 teaspoon Oyster
    1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
    1 1/2 tablespoons Black Vinegar
    1 1/2 tablespoons Sugar
    2 tablespoons Water
    Great with : fried pork tenderloin, fried pork spare ribs
  • Honey // via
    1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
    1 clove Garlic, chopped
    1 teaspoon Sugar
    2 tablespoons Honey
    1 tablespoon Water
    1/2 tablespoon Tomato Ketchup
    Great with : fried/baked chicken wings
  • Dark Soy // via
    1 tablespoon Dark Soy Caramel Sauce
    2 tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
    3 tablespoons Sugar
    5 tablespoons of Water
    Great with : pork spare ribs, pork belly, chicken thigh
  • Teriyaki // via
    2 tablespoons Mirin
    1 tablespoon Sugar
    2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
    Great with : diced chicken breast meat, grilled chicken chop
  • Yakitori // via
    5 tablespoons soy sauce
    1 tablespoon mirin
    1 tablespoon sugar
    1/2 teaspoon corn starch blended with 1 teaspoon water
    Great with : grilled chicken meat, grilled chicken balls

School Day Checklist

| San

The week long school holiday was over in the wink of an eye.  To get the kids ready for the new term, we created a leave-home-checklist: a list of items that they need to bring to school, e.g. water bottle, pocket money, student pass etc.  Special items that are needed on certain days (like, art file on Tuesdays) are also jotted down.

It is useful for the morning rush hour, as the kids can get a bit disorganized on their way out to school.  Best part: they do the checking on their own, and are responsible for their own oversight should they forget anything.