Homemade Playdough

Welcome to our blog! I wrestled with what to begin with on our first post because so much has been happening at our house. The twins turned two. Happy Birthday, Mary Ellie and Fenley! The baby turned one. Happy Birthday, Bear! It was Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving! And, the big birthday Bash at our house just happened. But, I think the best feedback and inquiries we have gotten from the party have been related to the Homemade Playdough. It was a huge hit as a party favor. We are so glad everyone enjoyed it. It is so easy to make at home and I promise, you will never buy the chemically, over-dyed stuff again.
Let me share the recipe with you. You can make this beginning to end in less than ten minutes. My two year olds can even help, it is not as messy as the store kind, and they enjoy "cooking" it which is half the battle with entertaining them.

You will need:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1. Combine all ingredients expect food coloring
2. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture forms a ball. (approximately 3 minutes, I do this part and not the children)
3. Remove from heat. At this point, dough can be divided and colored as you or your flock wishes. Warning: Food Coloring dyes little hands so start the process yourself, let the little children squirt the dye or knead after you get it started.
4. Knead several minutes on wax paper until dough is smooth and workable.
5. Enjoy! We have little wooden rolling pins and a barrel of little cookie cutters to mold the dough. Have fun!

The Ingredients

Mary Ellie the sous chef

making her own Birthday Party favors

one happy little helper

*I did not invent this recipe. It comes from the Potpourri section of one of my favorite cookbooks, Necessities and Temptations from the Austin Junior League. This cookbook has great old-fashioned recipes.