Kool- Aid Playdough

Found this recipe on DLTK.com ( really enjoy that site)

The kids had a great time making this.  It is a keeper!   I have been taking a step back with the older ones and letting them take over while we work in the kitchen. They have been reading and matching the measuring cups up.  They are even helping and teaching the younger ones.  I like recipes like this because they are able to see what happens if they don't add the ingredients correctly and easily.   

Also like it as R still tastes everything.  Give it a try! Let me know how it goes!

Kool-Aid Playdough
Ingredients:
 • 1 1/4 cup flour
 • 1/4 cup salt
 • 1 pkg unsweetened Kool-aid ( powder)
 • 1 cup boiling water ( they put it in the microwave about 2 min, I took it out )  
 • 1 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil
Directions:
 1.  In a bowl, mix the dry 
 2.  Stir in water and oil ( I had them make a valley in the middle and watch the color it changed)
 3.  Knead with hands.
 4.  Store in ziploc bag for up to 2
 4.  months.
 5.  Use like playdough.
 6.  Smells wonderful and takes on the color
     of the koolaid. 




Do you have any recipes that work well at your house, let us know we love to create and explore! 

Family Traditions: Jimmy's Pizza Crust

Growing up Jimmy a family friend would make pizza every Friday night and I believe he still does. I have memories of eating the dough he trimmed off and helping with the sauce, cheese and sausage.

I have since begun to make this every Tuesday. That is my shopping day and it ensures I eat before I go, otherwise I may spend more since I am hungry. This tradition has worked the kiddo's can almost make it themselves. The younger one's however just want eat the flour and explore in it. I am thinking I will get a bowl together so they can do just that. While the older ones and I do the measuring and mixing.

What you need:

• 3 3/4 cup flour
• 1 3/4c water
• 1/4 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoons dry yeast
• ½ table spoon oil

What to do:

• Mix all the dry ingredients together
• In another bowl mix the liquids
• Make valley in the dry ingredients
• Pour liquid in there
• mix ( I use my hand a knead it a little).
• Leave in the bowl for 2 -3 hours.
• Roll out the dough (you may need to knead it and add flour. I roll it out and then flip it a few times)
• Make sure it is big enough to hang a little over the pan
• Grease the pan
• Trim the extra's hanging over

Montessori Beginnings- Rolling dough

With these warm days. We have been spending the mornings outside and afternoons inside. We decided to make cookies. I had a box of Funfetti cake mix. C had a friend over who suggested we make cookies. I have never made Funfetti cookies, it was easy and we will do again.

We make the dough. Recipe is on the side of the box.

As you know I have been a having a difficult time with working with each age group. Making cookies went great. Everyone was rolling their dough by themselves.

Look how proud she is that she can do it.

They never seem to do it play dough. Maybe this worked because there is a purpose.

Each of us took turns flattening the balls. She was concentrating so hard as she did it.

Cookies came out YUMMY. They frosted them with star sprinkles.

Cotton Ball Dough

Today we made Cotton Ball Dough. It is suppose to be light and puffy when shaping. When it baked your creation should be light brown, become hard, and keep their puffy look. Well it was interesting. The kids enjoyed making it. However shaping was almost impossible you couldn't shape it in to anything. We will paint them when they come out maybe then it will look something.
Here is the recipe if you want to give it a try
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
3/4 to about 1 cup of water
Around 50 cotton balls

Other stuff to grab:
Mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Foil
Baking sheet

You will also need an OVEN

Directions:
1. In bowl mix the flour and water until smooth ( we had to add more water). But I was letting the kids do the work.
2. Add the cotton balls and stir
3. Make shapes and place on the sheet
4. Bake at 325 for 1 hour

I may try this again to make numbers and letters. Since we tried this with no real plan in mind.

This is the young ones did while the others followed the directions.