Homemade Playdoh: Even Better Than the Real Thing

This IS better than the real thing and so far superior to the Dollar store variety that I can't express it.

Benefits to making your own playdoh:

• cheaper
• better
• customizable colors
• LOTS of one color (big help when you have several toddlers)
• softer than regular Playdoh, but still holds its shape

Recipe is from First Art: Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos by Mary Ann Kohl (this is half of her recipe and it still makes quite a bit--maybe the equivalent of 6 regular Playdoh cans or so)

Have all supplies ready. This will take about 1/2 an hour, so do it during naptime when your kids aren't hanging on your pant legs and dying for their new activity.

• 2 1/2 c. water
• 1 1/4 c. salt
• 1 1/2 T. cream of tartar
• 1/2 t. to 1 1/2 T. food coloring (smaller amount for pastel on up as you please... I like about 1 1/2 t.)
• 5 T. oil
• 2 1/2 c. flour

Heat water, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in 3 quart saucepan until hot (over medium low heat). Stir in oil and gradually stir in flour. Continue heating and stirring until mixture pulls away from sides of pan (depending on how hot your salt/water mixture is, this can take no time at all or several minutes). Remove from heat periodically and check: when you can pinch off part of the mixture and it's not sticky, it's done.

Turn dough out onto a surface like a cutting board and let it cool slightly. While still warm, knead until smooth.

Store in a ziploc bag!