My favorite play dough

As I was labeling my last post about peanut butter playdough, I realized I have no craft type recipes (no category, so no recipes.)  I couldn't believe that since I have made all sorts of stuff from slime to play dough to different types of paint.  I mean I'm an Elementary Ed major with an Early childhood minor and I taught kindergarten for years.  This is my all time favorite play dough recipe.  The jello in it gives it color and smell and the large amount of cream of tartar gives it a great texture and makes it last forever.  This one took me a while to find because I haven't actually made it in years.  Maybe for the next playgroup.  If I find my other favorite playdough I'll post it too.  I used to make it each year at the beginning of the school year as a 1st day of school activity.  I know where the recipe was (in a Mailbox magazine) but I gave those all away when I quit teaching.  :(  

Ingredients

• 0.3 oz package of sugar free fruit flavored gelatin
• 2 cups four
• 1 cup salt
• 4 Tbsp cream of tartar
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 Tbs. cooking oil

 Directions

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a pan.  Add the boiling water and cooking oil.  Stir over medium-high heat until the mixture forms a ball.  (This usually happens immediately when you add boiling water.)  
2. Place the ball on waxed paper to cool.  Store in an airtight container.  Use different flavors to make different colors and smells.

 I do suggest adding a little food coloring to lighter colored Jello if you want a brighter colored dough.

peanut butter playdough

Yesterday was finally my turn for playgroup at my house.  We have 6 toddlers (2 1/2 to 3 years old) in the group, and we are house #6 so it has been a while before it got to us. Somehow Monday night or Tuesday morning while laying in bed I got the great idea to do peanut butter playdough with them.  However, I didn't manage to get to the finding a recipe and making it part until.... you guessed it Thursday morning.  There sure are a lot of peanut butter playdough recipes out there in case you were wondering.  They have varying quantities of peanut butter, nonfat dry milk, honey, and/or powdered sugar in them.  I chose a recipe that used very little honey and no powdered sugar.  I was actually overall impressed with the flavor.  It was quite tasty.  (To be honest I was afraid of the powdered milk tasting to strong.)  I'd definitely make this again for fun and/or snack.   The kids loved it.  Most didn't play too much with it - just mine.  He played forever, then played with it again in the afternoon.  They all had cute little grins when they tried eating it since they all informed me eating playdough was a no no.  :)

Unfortunately Brandon made this and I think he used equal parts peanut butter and dry milk.  I tried to add lots more (almost another full cup) of peanut butter and a bit more honey, so definitely start with the lesser amount of dry milk so it doesn't get too dry.

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2/3 -1 cup nonfat dry milk
• 2 Tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients adding enough powdered milk to make the playdough dry enough to handle but not crumbly.  
2. We just smashed ours flat and cut things out with cookie cutters.  I've added some other ideas below.

Other ideas

1. Add raisins to make a face
2. Stir in chow mein noodles and make a bird's nest.
3. Stir in chocolate chips or cheerios..... (you get the picture)
4. Try a nonfat chocolate milk mix to make chocolate peanut butter mix.
5. I read on comments to this blog that this mix could be cooked. Someone said they made halloween witches fingers with it - even putting a pretzel in the middle for a bone (almond slice for fingernail.)