Playing in the Kitchen

Now that your kids are out of school are you scrambling to keep them busy? Get them off the couch and into the kitchen and have them whip up some of these not so yummy recipes.

Cooked Play Dough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Food coloring
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon oil

Mix together over warm heat until thick. Knead with hands until smooth. If the cream of tartar is added while kneading, play dough will have a marbled look.

Finger Paints

2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup cold water

Mix to smooth consistency. Cook until clean and pudding thickness. Add poster paint or other coloring while warm.

Goop

1 box cornstarch
Water
Food coloring

Mix cornstarch with enough water to make a pliable wet substance. The mixture holds its shape when worked with hands, but "melts" when hands are still. Food coloring can be added for color.

Glurch

1 cup liquid starch
1 cup white all-purpose glue

This is similar to a homemade putty-style mixture that is "gooey and stringy with a different texture." Add glue to the starch. When glue starts to solidify, pour off the starch. Work with hands until the glue is more solid. Rinse with cold water to rinse off excess starch. If the mixture is too sticky, add more starch. An apron or old T-shirt should be worn while mixing the glurch because the combination can be hard to remove from clothing.

Creative Clay

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda (a 1-pound package)
1 -1/4 cups cold water

Stir starch and soda. Mix in cold water and stir over heat until mixture has the consistency of mashed potatoes. Turn onto a plate and cover with a damp cloth until cool enough to handle. Then knead. Use immediately or store in an airtight container. Clay can be modeled or rolled thin and cut with cookie cutters. Clay creations will dry at room temperature in three days or can be dried in a 200 degree oven.

These are also great for serving when your kids have friends over! You can top it off with a visit to the local playground for playtime too!