{ playdough }

As a young tacker I loved playing with playdough, my mum used to make it for us, it was always softer and much nicer that the tiny little tubs of plastic commercialised playdough on the market and even better we go to chose what colours we would get. We would sit perched atop a kitchen stool watching Mum measuring, mixing and cooking the dough. Then having to wait patiently as it cooled enough that we could let our creativity run wild and play for hours on end, cutting, rolling and smashing the soft dough into various things.

This year I made it for Miss 3's birthday party, it went into the goodie bags and funnily enough the adults were just as excited as the children to have it to play with.

So why buy  when you can make it yourself right at home, quickly and easily without even needing the cook top!

What you need for your NO COOK Playdough, this recipe is straight from the side of a container of Cream of Tartar, it's not special or amazing, with the exception I make it without using the cooktop, but it comes out smooth, soft and lasts for months.

~ 2 cups of plain flour

~ 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
~ 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
~ 1 cup of salt
~ 2 cups of boiling water. 
~ Food colouring ( I just used the basic Queens Food Colouring)



How to make it

1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl, until well combined
2. Add boiling water* and oil and mix with a wooden spoon. (*Water must be freshly off the boil)
3. Then as you can handle it with your hands, divide it into smaller portions and knead in the colour in on a plastic chopping board :)

For easter I altered the recipe to create chocolate playdough, and oh my does it smell divine! I whipped up a batch divided it up and filled little reusable plastic eggs. Although I recommend storing it in zip lock bags until you are giving it as these little eggs have breathing holes and it will dry out the playdough if not in a sealed bag. It is a great alternative to giving chocolate at easter, just remind the little people not to eat it :)

~ 1 1/2 cups of plain flour
~ 1/2 cup of cocoa
~ 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
~ 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
~ 1 cup of salt
~ 2 cups of boiling water. 


To make it just follow the instructions above ^

Be creative  ~ Variations


Why not have some fun with it too, try these things:
When you colour it add a few drops of a corresponding essential oil for example:
~ lavendar with purple dough (may inadvertantly make child sleepy!)
~ lemon for yellow dough
~ rose for pink/red dough
~ peppermint for green dough
Glitter!!! When mixing spread the dough flat, spinkle glitter over the top and knead through the dough




Storage

This last for ages as long as you don't let it dry out (just like "off the shelf" playdough), I was actually surprised how long it lasts At the time of making my first batch, I was worried about making it too early for Miss 3's birthday as I didn't want it to go off before the party, I had little to worry about! As I just recently found 4 packets in a plastic storage tub that were left over from the party 6 months after the party, each had been stored in zip lock bags and were completely fine and usable, no mould or any nasties, they were just a little sticky, but 6 months old and not even refridgerated, this stuff rocks!

It can be kept in the fridge if you have room, best stored in a tightly sealed plastic container or I use zip lock bags.

And trust me you'll have just as much fun as the kids playing with this :)