Recipes - Playdough and More

The Best Home-Made Play-Dough Ever

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Round up the following items before you begin:

• A kid or two to help. I chose Casey and Tatum. They were willing, handy, are hard workers.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Gather these ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup salt

• 2 tablespoons of shortening

• 1 tablespoon of powdered alum (found in the spices section at the store).  You can substitute cream of tarter for the alum if you want to.  

• Food coloring

• A good, heavy duty pot

Next:

• Add the food coloring to the water in a large measuring cup and stir.  Put it aside.

• Place the dry ingredients in the pan, and mix well.

• Add shortening to dry ingredients, and mix well.

• Add colored water to the pan, and cook over low heat.

• Stir constantly until the mixture thickens into a ball and pulls away from the pan.  I use a big wooden spoon. The ball of hot dough will is going to be heavy.

• Dump the dough on to a floured counter-top and knead until smooth.  Add a bit more flour if you think the dough is too sticky.

•  Let the play-dough cool off a bit and then put it into a Ziplock freezer bag.  Keep the corner of the bag open so that it can cool and let extra condensation out.

• Store in a Ziplock bag that is placed inside a plastic container.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This play-dough will last for a month or two, if you put it back in the plastic bags when you are all done.