No cook playdough- Prefect For Summer!

When it's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk good luck getting me cooking in the kitchen!

Even if it's for something as fun as making homemade playdough!

Yesterday morning I had my hands full cleaning up after our camping trip and needed a day at home to catch up. But what to do with a 2 1/2 year old at home when it's hotter than a cat fight in a wool sock.....??

"Cook" no cook play dough!
(Anything in the kitchen with a bowl is cooking to Sienna)

Here's what you need:
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup salt
1 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 cups flour
1 tablespoons cornstarch
Food coloring


This yields a softball size ball of dough.

Please note, I use small portions to make multiple batches in different colors. Since it's no cooking, it's no big deal to repeat the process more than once :)

Step 1:
In a large bowl, mix together water, salt, oil and a several drops of food coloring.



Step 2:
Mix flour and cornstarch and add it spoonfuls at a time, stirring constantly.

You may need a little more or a little less of the flour/cornstarch mixtures, which is why I do spoonfuls at a time.






Step 3:
When it's the right consistency (like pizza or bread dough) pat some extra flour on your hands and plunge right on in! Knead for a few minutes until it is well combined.




Step 4:
Break off a chunk of each color, plop the little ones down with some plastic cookie cutters, plates, cups or Popsicle sticks and watch their imaginations unfold!

I just love sneaking over to listen to their play talk when they don't think you're watching!


Thank goodness for little miss bossy pants who made sure to tell baby brother "no, no don't eat my cup please!"

He showed her... keep your cup Sis, I've got the spoon ;)


When the last veggie face was sculpted and it was time for lunch I simply wrapped whatever playdough managed to remain unmixed by the young artist in damp paper towels.

I usually only let them play with half of each color at a time and store the other half right away, since Sienna usually mixes all the colors to a hopeless stew and there just really is no point in saving that!

To store all you have to do is toss the wrapped up balls all together in a sealed zipped lock bag.

It'll stay pretty well in the fridge for quite a long time depending on how often they're re-used.

Trouble-shooting:
Add flour if the playdough is too sticky
Add a teensy bit of vegetable oil if they playdough is too dry
Add water if it's not sticking together

Enjoy!

By the way, does anyone know if it's play DOUGH or play doh?? Geez, you'd think they'd teach you that in kindergarten with how often we played with this stuff!