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Homemade Soft Play Dough

If you are looking for quick project to do with the kids to keep them entertained, homemade play dough is always a favorite at my house. They can help make it by mixing and kneading and picking what color they want to make it and then when it's done they can of course play with it.  For our batch we made red and yellow, then we could mix a little from both and also have... orange! (this was very exciting to a 2 year old!) This recipe makes quite a bit so if you only have one child you could half it. It will last quite awhile in an airtight container. I keep mine in the fridge.

Here's what you need:
  • 1cup flour 
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • food coloring
This can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. Mix all ingredients in a pan or microwave safe bowl, if you are cooking on the stove, stir and cook until the ingredients leave the sides of the pan then remove it and let it cool.
For cooking in the microwave, mix in a microwave safe bowl. Cook 45 seconds then stir, cook another 45 seconds and stir. It should be done after that, if not then try another 25 seconds. Don't overcook, you want to stop when you can mix it and it stays together.
There are a couple ways to add the color, if you are just doing one color, you can add it to the oil and water before you mix with the dry ingredients. This is a little less messy, but I like doing more than one color so once it is cool enough to handle, I split the dough into sections and  knead the food coloring in. Sometimes I use gloves and mix on a cookie sheet or cutting board, I haven't had the color stain anything...yet, but depending on the type of coloring you use, you might want to take precautions just in case. Have fun creating!


~Simply Angie

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