Saturday, August 20, 2011

Very Good Play Dough

 My mom just called.  My niece has "a little cold" and will be spending the day with my mother, who has in turn decided they should make play dough.  She called for Aunt Daisey's recipe.  The recipe I have originated  from my very good friend in Bothell, WA over 5 years ago, where she acquired it, I do not know.  Scribbled at the top of my recipe is "Very Good Play Dough,"  the paper itself is covered in oil marks and food coloring. The kids and I have made lots and lots of Very Good Play Dough.  So today we pass on our Very Good Play Dough to my niece and anyone else who cares to play dough.
Mixing together the ingredients is a very kid friendly activity.  The recipe is very flexible and very forgiving.
In a medium saucepan mix together:
       2 Cups flour
       1 Cup salt (maybe a little less)
       4 teaspoons cream of tartar
 Combine and add to the saucepan:
       2 Cups warm water
       2 Tablespoons of oil + a teaspoon more
       1 or more teaspoons of food coloring
 Stir, stir, stir, because stirring is loads of fun!  Don't worry about getting the lumps out before you cook the dough.

Next cook over medium hear for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  It can burn easily, so really stir constantly.  Test for readiness by squeezing a piece of the dough.  If it is sticky keep cooking, if it is springy, it is done.  The dough will get VERY difficult to stir, and you may think it isn't working, but keep going, it will work, almost like magic.
 Let the Play Dough thoroughly cool before poking your fingers into it.
If you have made Play Dough for all your friends try hard to resist poking your fingers into all of their Play Dough...though they probably won't mind.
This Play Dough keeps for a VERY long time if stored in an airtight container.  These pictures were from my daughter's birthday almost 6 months ago, and she is still playing with dough we made that day.

To my sweet niece, I hope the dough helps brighten you day! Have fun, and feel better soon!
Love,
Aunt Daisey

8 comments:

  1. Boy it's been years since I made very good Play Dough. It's great stuff. Hope the little one feels better soon.

    Happy Playdoughing :-)

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  2. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Daisey. It looks like a great rainy day or maybe cold foggy winter day activity for us. Have you ever tried natural dies? Not that it matters to me . . . just curious.
    D

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  3. I have not tried any natural dyes, but I think it would be fun to try onion peels and beet powder, or even marigolds.

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  4. Hey, Daisey. Thanks bunches for the Wonder Woman apron link. That was cool. Thanks for thinking of me. Much appreciated.

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  5. I've been missing you in the blog world. How is the job going?

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  6. That stuff looks a lot better than the crap you buy at stores (and probably a lot cheaper).

    But I think I'm a bit too old to be playing with Playdough. :P

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  7. Perhaps that's one of the benefits of having small children, you realize you are never too old to play with the play dough, there is just that decade or so in between childhood and parenthood when the opportunities are not as plentiful ;o)

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  8. DWei: Too old? Silly talk. Never ever too old to play. Not ever.

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