Author: Megan

Homemade Play Dough

This is a simple, quick, cheap, and non-toxic (but not edible) play dough. It may be stored in an air-tight container for many months.

Homemade Play Dough Recipe:

  • 2 cups flour (cheap all-purpose white flour works best)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup salt (basic cheap salt)
  • 2 Tbsp oil (canola or whatever)
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • food coloring (or concentrated gel food coloring for colors like red or purple)

Mix ingredients in a big pot.  Stir over medium heat until it thickens and then comes together in a big ball.  Dump on counter and knead a bit until smooth.

Ideally your end user would observe or assist with the process as he is able.

Today’s play dough (pictured) had 20 drops green and 10 drops yellow food coloring.  Cooking time was less than 10 minutes and I barely had to knead it.

Just beginning to heat
Starting to thicken

Ready to remove from heat
finished play dough
Finished play dough

Black Raspberry Ice Cream

My husband loves black raspberry ice cream. This is how we made our own.

Preliminaries:

  1. Obtain black raspberry cuttings from a local friend.
  2. Leave cuttings out in the sun until almost dead, then plant the survivors. (This is known as “hardening” if you do it on purpose.)
  3. Allow plants to become established over several years until you get a decent crop of berries.
  4. When you see berries forming be sure to water plants well.
  5. Collect ripe berries daily before the birds get them.
  6. Freeze berries on a pan in the freezer, then transfer to ziplock bags. (We rinse & dry the berries first.)

Ingredients:*

  • 3 c black raspberries (makes 1 1/4 c puréed fruit)
  • 1 pint cream
  • 3/4 c sugar
  • 1 T lemon juice

Directions:*

  1. Purée raspberries (if frozen, let them melt at room temperature or in the fridge first).
  2. Blend all ingredients thoroughly in blender.
  3. Strain out seeds.
  4. Process for 25-30 minutes in ice cream maker (makes one batch in a 1.5 quart machine).
  5. Freeze overnight.

*Adapted from BlackberryRaspberry.com

The original recipe called for double the fruit, resulting in an icier product (and too much to be processed at one time in my ice cream maker). This version is still very flavorful but much creamier, having proportions more similar to our usual basic vanilla ice cream recipe.