Play Doh

When my kids were little I always loved to make them homemade play doh.   One batch makes a nice sized ball of dough.  It is way softer than the store bought kind.  And the kids love to help with it.  When my girls both started school, especially K thru 3rd grade or so, they were invited to birthday parties constantly.  We didn't have any extra money, and I started to make play doh gift baskets for the kids parties.  I would make play doh in several colors, and seal it in see through bags, and attach several fun little cookie cutters to the bags with lots of colored curly ribbon.  Sometimes I would find little play rolling pins to attach too.  It was always a hit.  And cost very little to do.  Today, I decided to make play doh.  It was the first time in many years.  Our "baby" is 21 and way past play doh age!!

Here is what you will need:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 T vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
food color of choice

Assemble all ingredients, except food color in heavy sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat until dough forms a ball.  Stirring constantly.  Only takes a couple of minutes.  It will be very lumpy at first, but it will wind up satin smooth.

Turn dough out onto a smooth surface and add food color of choice. Knead color into dough until uniform in color.  It will be hot at first so be careful not to burn your hands.

Noah liked squirting the food color into the dough.  Make a well in the dough ball, put color inside well, kneading the dough around the food color so you don't make a big mess. 

Get your cookie cutters and kitchen gadgets out and have fun!  Try the garlic press for making hair!  Noah's Mommy got home while we were making our play doh, so we didn't get all the goodies out today.  Tomorrow I am sure he will be ready to play with all of that dough he made first thing in the morning!
Maybe Hannah and Claire will come and play too.  Gamma is ready!