Monday, October 6, 2008

Playdough


*Please note this is not the homemade playdough*

A few people have mentioned that they'd love a homemade playdough recipe. It's really simple. I sometimes forget how simple it is. If you have the ingredients on hand (I almost always do), it's easy to throw together during naptime for an afternoon surprise.

*As printed in the Crisis Pregnancy Center Cook Book around 1988, by L. Shanley*
Playdoh
1 c water
1 c flour
1 t food dye
1/2 c salt
2 t cream of tartar (also called tartic acid)
1 T oil

Mix all ingredients. Cook over medium heat in saucepan until it is not sticky (2 1/2 - 5 minutes). Cool in freezer for 10 minutes.
Keep in mind that I rarely get to "not sticky" stage before it starts to burn down a bit in the pot. I just pulled it out and (carefully, as it's hot) kneaded in a bit of flour to absorb the last bit of "stick".
Store in an airtight container.

It's great because you can throw it out when it gets disgusting (or they've been sick and had their scummy germs on it), and simply make more. The only thing I find difficult is having 1/2 c salt in the house. That's the only one I have trouble keeping up with sometimes.

You can be generous with your food dye, because you don't get bright colours otherwise.





Posted by Picasa

7 comments:

  1. Here's another - no salt necessary and no cooking either.

    Ingredients:

    * 1 cup cornstarch
    * 1/3 cup vegetable oil
    * 2/3 cup flour

    Preparation:
    Pour cornstarch into a bowl.
    Add vegetable oil.
    Stir until syrupy.
    Gradually add flour until the mix is thick and doughy.
    Knead well.
    Store in an airtight container.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another without salt. Personally, I hate the gritty-ness of salt playdoughs. Cornstarch recipes are very smooth.

    Ingredients

    * 2 c baking soda
    * 1 c cornstarch
    * 1 1/4 c water

    Method:

    * Combine ingredients in a medium saucepan.
    * Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it begins to look like mashed potatoes.
    * Immediately remove from heat, let cool a bit, and knead to form a ball. (Be careful not to overcook or it gets lumpy and hard).

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I had little kids I loved to make playdough for my kids... Here is a recipe I used.

    2c boiling water
    1 pkg. Kool-Aid®
    3 T. oil
    2-2 1/2 c salt

    Directions:
    In a bowl, mix flour, salt and kool-aid. Stir in water and oil
    Knead with hands for about 5 minutes.Store in ziploc bag for up to 2 months.Use like playdough.
    Smells wonderful and takes on the color of the koolaid.

    ToOdLeS.ShEiLA

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is the EXACT recipe I've used for 20 years...first working in a daycare setting and then with all my own children, nieces, nephews, etc.

    For fun, sometimes I put glitter into it, but you do have to have a high tolerance for mess with that!

    ReplyDelete
  5. look at her hair growing longer! so cute.

    ReplyDelete
  6. O.k. well, I guess everyone has beat me to post another playdough recipe...but here's the no cook, kool-aid playdough recipe we used last...but I had to add a ton more flour for it to not be stick...
    http://www.recipezaar.com/87651

    The kids liked it...and we added Halloween glitter...oooh! LOL!

    ReplyDelete