NanaP's Profile

Play dough - fabulous, almost-free fun! It's been decades since I made it, but I'm about to make a batch to introduce our 15-month-old grandbaby to it.

Some thoughts:

- You don't have to make 12 colors, or even two. They'll just get all mixed together, anyway. Easy way: Make one color. Next time, make another.

- My recipe (below) calls for boiling water. It's dead easy. Just do the kneading with rubber gloves on, because it's HOT at first. It has a wonderfully silky texture that even adults can't resist.

- Play dough in the rug? Not a problem! Choose an easy-clean place (such as a table) for the play area. Play dough stays there. It does not get carried through the house, and it's stored nearby. Sit with the kids and mess around with them - great stress reliever!

- Scrounge in your kitchen drawers for utensils you don't use, and keep them with the play dough. Old table knives, wire whips, etc.

Our play dough recipe (you can double it for a big batch):

2-1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon powdered alum
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
3 tablespoons salad oil
food coloring

Mix dry ingredients in bowl. Bring water to a boil, add oil and coloring. Pour over dry ingredients while stirring. Knead well until smooth (careful - it's hot).

Store in a ziplock back or plastic storage container, at room temperature.

You can find alum with first-aid supplies in the drugstore section or pickling/canning supplies in the grocery store.