Monday, June 29, 2009

Homemade Play Dough


Did you see me with my cute little kiddos on Fox this morning? http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/azam/home_play_dough_062909

They are so wonderful down there at the studio! I can't even tell you how important they made my little ones feel. It was like being part of the family! So, if you are joining me from Fox 10, here are the recipes from the segment. We made play dough. Treasure Rocks and Homemade bubbles.

Soft Play Dough3 cups four
1/2 cup salt
2 packages of Kool-aid or flavor aid
2 cups boiling water (that is important... it has to be boiling!!!)
3 T oil.

Combine flour, salt and kool-aid in a large bowl. I use kool aid so my hands don't smell like commercially made play dough. As much fun as it is to play with, I'm not a huge fan of the smell. Though I am told that when they had the 50 yr anniversary of play-doh, a perfume company actually came out with cologne that was the smell of play dough. Whimsical reminder of childhood scents...or just weird. I'm not sure. I don't want to smell like Gumby.

In a microwave safe container, combine oil and water. Bring to a boil, about 2 minutes.

Pour into the dry ingredients.


Mix until combined. Allow to cool. Oh that is so important. No burning little fingers. I don't want any law suits. Geeesh! When cool, knead for 3-4 minutes until totally smooth.

I love using different flavors of kool aid and then mixing them with different flavor extracts for freaky awesome smelling lumps of love dough. For example, here we have cherry-almond, blue raspberry-coconut, and minted-lemonade. Who else makes gourmet play dough? I'm telling you that you will the be coolest dough personage ever. You'll smell like a Smurf-berry too. Just a reminder, this dough doesn't contain preservatives, so please refrigerate. I keep it in used Crystal Light containers. Yes, just another way to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Do you have a child with gluten allergies who can't have wheat flour? Here is the recipe for cornstarch play dough:

Gluten free play dough1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup salt
1 cup cool water
1 kool aid packet
2T oil
combine ingredients in a microwave safe dish. On high microwave 1 minute. Stir well. Microwave again 1 minute, dough will start to get lumpy. Mix well. Microwave one more minute. Mix well and allow to cool. When cool enough to touch, knead 3-5 minutes until smooth.

This one is edible and just as fun as play dough but without the salty effect. Kids love it!

Candy Dough2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 cups boiling water
2 kool-aid packets.
3 T oil

Follow the same directions for the soft play dough, but use the candy dough ingredients.

There you go.

13 comments:

Angela said...

Okay, you are amazing! I LOVE the scent idea--we used homemade playdough alot as kids, but it sure didn't smell good. And how fun to get to do the news segments!

Goob said...

aha! Every time I throw away a Crystal Light canister, I wonder what else I could be using it for. Now I know!

Shellee said...

My mom called me this morning... "Is that Stephanie on Channel 10?!?!?!?" I guess I forgot to tell her of your newfound fame on the TV.

Midodi said...

O.K. I've never tried Candy Dough. I can't wait. If you've never made Peanut Butter Clay, I have a recipe posted on 5 flavors somewhere. Thanks again. Makes my summer job easier.

Chef Tess said...

Peanut butter clay?! I'm ready for that recipe! You post it, and I'll host it!

Midodi said...

So I just tried the candy play dough and must have done something wrong because it was the consistancy of gloop of some sort. I added cup after cup of flour till we could work it with our hands. What did I do wrong?

Midodi said...

Here is recipe for PB dough. 5flavorsinthecastle.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-time-is-precious.html

Chef Tess said...

The play dough will end up goopy if you don't boil the water. When it is even "hot" it won't work. The boiling water will partially cook the starch as tempid water would not. So that is what my thought is. Check your measurements too. Make sure it was right and not too much water.

Olivia said...

Made this play dough this morning to keep the kiddies busy while I cleaned and it was a hit! I love the vibrant colors! Thanks, Tess! Smooches!

Dori said...

I never thought to add kool-aid! We go through a-LOT of play dough around here and the cooked version lasts so much longer.

After all these years getting my kiddos to NOT eat the play dough, I'm not sure I want to make the candy version and tell them it's okay to eat. :D They think I'm loony enough as it is!

Shae Ko said...

Nathan and I made this almost a month ago and it is still going strong. I only made half the recipe and keep it in the refrigerator and Nathan asks to play with it every day (usually when I'm putting him to sleep.) Thank you.

Chef Tess said...

Ah Shae, that does my heart good! Xoxo! Love you!!

Shae Ko said...

We still make playdough regularly and now I have found a new use for it . . . Sunbeams! I just bring a little container from my fridg. and we play with it at the end of class. I just bring wax paper to lay on the table for easy clean up. Thank you again.