playdough

One rainy day not so long ago, Rowan and I decided to make playdough.  I've made playdough once before and, in all honesty, it came out awful.  The color was dull, it was more tough than stretchy, and it smelled funky.  It lasted about 2 days and I threw it out.  This time, I consulted the web before I did anything and found a ton of recipes.  Here's the one I used:  

Playdough
3 cups flour 
1 1/2 cups salt
3 cups water
2 TB vegetable oil
1 TB cream of tartar*
1-3 drops lavender essential oil
Food coloring


* I didn't have any cream of tartar on hand.  After a quick online search, I learned you could substitute vinegar.  I put in a bit more essential oil to cover up the vinegar smell.


Mix ingredients in a large saucepan and cook over medium low heat - until the dough comes away  from the edges of the pan and it becomes difficult to move the spoon. Remove from heat. Cool until it can be handled. 
Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat, and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth. Divide the dough into balls for coloring. Make a divot in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring in.  Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of the playdough.  Store in an air tight container.

The key to nice looking play dough - use LOTS of food coloring.  No, don't be shy.  The key to nice smelling play dough - lavender essential oil.  And the key to great texture - cooking it!  Who knew?