This easy, make-at-home playdough requires just four ingredients and no equipment or cooking, making it fun for kids of all ages, including toddlers. The salty dough deters eating and you can choose any kind of dye, or no dye at all. We like to use gel food coloring because a little goes a long way. Here’s how to make your own in just a few steps.This recipe makes roughly the equivalent of two standard size containers of commercial playdough. Because of the simple quantities it’s very easy to double or even triple the recipe.
You will need:
1/2 cup of salt
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of flour (for mixing in the dough) plus 1/2 cup more for sprinkling/kneading
Food coloring (optional) Measure your ingredients and add them all, except the food coloring, to a large mixing bowl. Mix them with a spoon or spatula until they start to stick together. If you are making more than one color, divide the dough up into equal parts (depending on how many colors you wish to make). Add the food coloring to the dough. And mix it in a bit with a spoon, just enough to work give it a swirly appearance.
Sprinkle flour onto a dry surface and turn the dough out of the bowl. Knead. Push, pull, punch, knead! This is one of the funnest parts for kids and you can’t over knead it. The kneading is what ultimately distributes the color and you can use the color as an indication that it’s been kneaded enough.
The dough probably won’t have the exact consistency of the store-bought variety, but it gets pretty close. You want to keep adding flour in small pinches and working it in until the dough isn’t sticky but is still pliable. Your dough is ready for playing!Now, they will be super-occupied while you clean up the flour that’s all over the floor. Hand them a bread knife, a few cookie cutters and a garlic press and relax (or do the dishes). Store your playdough in sealable plastic bags. If it gets dried out, sprinkle a bit of water on it and knead it before playing. (And if it feels too sticky, add flour.)
Have you made your own playdough? Let us know if the comments below!
Look out Mickey Mouse! A new theme park is coming to the Midwest and it is going to be massive. The newly-announced Planet Oasis amusement park will cover 350 acres of land, or roughly four Disneylands.
The new theme park will be located in Sunbury, Ohio just outside of Columbus. Besides the traditional amusement park activities like roller coasters and a ferris wheel, the park will also feature some unique attractions including and indoor waterpark and surfing, BMX racing, skydiving, a 15 – 20 acre salt water lake with beach and boardwalk, a Medieval Times and a butterfly museum.
The park will also include several hotels, restaurants and a 160,000 square-foot indoor sports arena. Ohio already offers two of the most popular amusement parks in the country, Cedar Point and Kings Island, both of which attract millions of visitors annually. So it makes sense that a new theme park would fit into the midwest state perfectly.
Construction on Planet Oasis is set to begin later this year with an open date for nearly half the park set for 2019 and 75 percent complete by 2020.
It takes more than, “I think I can” to make your little believers fly; they’re also going to need a little pixie dust. But where to get it? Follow this simple step-by-step DIY pixie dust recipe and your kids will be Neverland-bound in no time.
What You’ll Need
Glitter (at least two different kinds)
Mixing bowl
Spoon for mixing
Vials for holding pixie dust (available here, or at your local craft store)
Labels
Baby powder, if you plan on sprinkling your dust outside (see last step)
Step 1: Pour in the sparkles
Let your little Peter Pans or Wendys pick and pour their glitter into a medium to large-sized bowl (bigger bowl = less mess). Fine glitter works best for pixie dust, but you can toss in different grains to add dimension (and sparkle!) to your finished product. Note: Keep your glitter away from carpets or furniture; it takes some real magic to get sparkles out of fabrics.
Step 2: Spoon Into Vials
What vials, you ask? Amazon and Etsy sell multitudes of magical-looking tiny glass bottles (some even have attached loops to turn your vials into necklaces!) perfect for pixie dust. If this is a last-minute sort of project and you don’t have time to order in advance, look in the jewelry section of your local craft store to find small bead containers. Even better? Just look around your house: Old salt and pepper shakers work great — just dab some glue over the holes if you don’t want glitter all over everything, or tell your tiny Tinkerbell to keep her sparkle-spreading strictly outside.
Step 3: Slap a Label on It!
Once your jar is filled and closed, let your kids make a special label for it. Don’t skip this step: This is what turns a simple jar of glitter into a magical vessel of super-special fairy dust.
Step 4: Enjoy!
Let your kiddos keep their pixie dust in a special place — or make it into a necklace by twisting tiny eye screws into your bottle corks.
Step 5: Want Something Flashier?
If your spell-casters want to throw their pixie dust instead of bottling it up, simply add equal amounts of baby powder to glitter — then take it outside and toss it by the handful. Kids will love seeing their pixie dust go POOF as the glitter falls to the ground. (Note: This version doesn’t look as pretty in a bottle, so it’s best to keep it for tossing.)
Chicken salad in the slow cooker? This recipe from The Dinner Mom is so genius we wish we’d thought of it ourselves. It’ll be delicious when freshly made, and works well as a packed lunch, too.
Ingredients 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast Salt and pepper to taste 8 ounces cream cheese 1 tablespoon tarragon dried 1/4 cup Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream 1 cup diced celery 1 cup slivered almonds 1 cup cranberries (leave out for very low-carb version)
Method 1. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Season chicken breast with salt and pepper and place in slow cooker.
3. Sprinkle tarragon over the top of the chicken.
4. Cut cream cheese into cubes and place on top of chicken.
5. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for about 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
6. Open slow cooker and shred chicken with two forks, mixing in melted cream cheese.
7. Remove chicken base to serving dish.
8. Stir in sour cream, celery, almonds and cranberries.
Thanks to Marjory of The Dinner Mom for sharing this recipe and photo with us. Check out her website for more clean and healthy recipes that your whole family will love.
We’ve found your new favorite weeknight meal, courtesy of The Flavours of Kitchen. The key to this succulent chicken is in the orange sauce, enhanced with brown sugar, soy sauce and fresh ginger. It’s easy to remix this recipe too—you can substitute chicken breast or different veggies if that’s what your crew prefers.
Ingredients 2 pounds chicken thigh, bone-in and skin on 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1.5 tbsp fresh ginger, cut into thin julienne 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp dark soy sauce 1 tsp red chili flakes Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup red bell pepper, cut 2 tsp cornstarch 1/4 cup water
Method 1. In a nonstick pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Cook the chicken thigh on medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side.
2. Mix orange juice, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, red chili flakes, salt and pepper.
3. Preheat the slow cooker on high heat for 20 minutes. Then add chicken thigh and orange juice mixture.
4. Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours. Stir a couple of times in between, to make sure the juice is evenly covering all the chicken thighs.
5. At the end of 2 hours, stir cornstarch and water together. Pour it into the slow cooker and mix well.
6. Then add chopped red bell pepper. Give everything a good stir and cook on high for another 45 minutes to 1 hour.
7. To serve, garnish with chopped green onions.
We thank Subhasmita of The Flavours of Kitchen for sharing this recipe and photo with us. Be sure to check out her site to find lots more healthy and easy-to-make recipes.
This slow cooker recipe from The Seasoned Mom is sure to find a place in your meal rotation. There are lots of ways to remix it—serve it with pasta or rice, or make it into a cheesy sandwich. Plus, if you’re an Instant Pot fan, it can be put to use with this recipe.
Ingredients 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 24 ounces total) 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 red bell peppers, seeded and sliced 1 sweet onion, sliced 4 teaspoons minced garlic 8 ounces sliced mushrooms 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 8 ounces crushed tomatoes ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper (add more for a spicy dish or omit entirely for a mild dish) ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper Garnish: chopped fresh basil or fresh parsley For serving: pasta, rice, zucchini noodles, or cauliflower rice, etc.
Method 1. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. If you have time to sear the chicken in a hot skillet for a few minutes per side before placing it in the slow cooker, it gives the meat great flavor. If you don’t have time to brown the chicken first, that’s okay too!
3. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine.
4. Cover and cook on “LOW” setting for 3-4 hours, or until chicken is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve chicken, vegetables and sauce with a slotted spoon over pasta, rice, zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice, if desired. The meat is also great in hoagies (toasted with melted cheese on top) or as a topping on pizza or flatbread. Garnish with fresh herbs just before serving.
Alternative Instant Pot Method 1. Press “sear” or “sauté” on the pressure cooker. Add oil to the pot and brown chicken for about 2-3 minutes per side. Turn off sear function.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Close the top properly and select “Poultry” or “Manual” setting. Set the time to 8 minutes for fresh chicken breast, or 13 minutes for frozen chicken breast. (These times are for typical 6-8 ounce chicken breasts. If yours are larger, add a couple of minutes.)
3. When done, let the pressure naturally release for at least 5 minutes. After that, you can turn the valve to “vent” for quick release if you’re in a hurry, or continue natural release for the most tender texture.
Blair shares family-friendly recipes on her blog, The Seasoned Mom. Hop over to her website to find more kid-approved recipes that won’t take hours to make.
Chowder isn’t just for winter, and this version from A Zesty Bite is sure to become a summer staple. If you’ve got fresh corn on hand, this is the perfect dish to use it in (and if not, frozen works great too!).
Ingredients 1-1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 1/2 cups diced celery 28 ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and rinsed 16 ounce package frozen corn 1 teaspoon minced garlic 32 ounces low sodium chicken broth 1 cup diced okra 1 1/4 cup half and half 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning salt to season
Method 1. Cut chicken into chunks and place into a large skillet over medium heat. Sear all the sides of the chicken and place into the slow cooker.
2. Add the celery, tomatoes, corn, garlic and chicken broth. Cook on low for 4 hours. Add the okra, half and half, Italian seasoning and salt and cook for an additional 30-45 minutes.
Note: If you use fresh corn just put it in when you add the okra.
This recipe and photo come courtesy of Meagan from A Zesty Bite. Hop over to her site to discover more easy meal ideas that also happen to be totally kid-approved.
Vegetarian eating doesn’t have to be boring! This recipe from My Kitchen Love is totally kid-approved and healthy to boot. If your little one isn’t a fan of broccoli, you can sub in green beans, but either way, they’ll love the garlicky peanut sauce that brings the dish together.
Ingredients 1 x 8 oz (230 g) package soba noodles, cooked as per package directions and 1/4 cup pasta water reserved 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2-1 garlic clove, finely grated or chopped (start with 1/2 of a clove and then add more once you’ve tasted the sauce) 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp lime juice 1 large head of broccoli, chopped into bite size pieces (or substitute green beans) 1 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper to season Optional garnishes: crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro
Method 1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Cook soba noodles as per package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes in boiling water. Immediately before draining, set aside 1/4 cup of water.
3. Meanwhile, toss broccoli with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.
4. For the sauce, place peanut butter, garlic, soy, lime juice, and reserved 1/4 cup of water (from noodles) in a blender or food processor and blend until well combined.
5. Toss cooked noodles with peanut sauce until noodles are coated with sauce. Serve with roasted broccoli and optional garnishes if desired.
Notes If replacing broccoli with green beans, simply add them to the soba noodles with 2-3 minutes left in the cooking process. Drain and toss with noodles and peanut sauce.
Plan to make this dish? Pin it and share with your friends! Or, better yet—after you make it comment below and tell us your favorite part about it!
This recipe comes from Samantha of My Kitchen Love. Be sure to visit her website for more kid-approved meal ideas, from smoothies to sweets and everything in between.
A risotto recipe that doesn’t require constant stirring? Sign us up! This recipe from Savory Tooth is super simple, and it tastes amazing too. With creamy cheddar cheese and a healthy dose of veggies, it’s definitely a weeknight winner.
Ingredients 5 cups small broccoli florets 1 cup risotto rice or arborio rice 3 cups vegetable broth 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 5 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Method 1. Heat olive oil in a 3 quart nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add broccoli, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook until the broccoli is tender, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer broccoli to a plate and set aside.
2. Add rice, vegetable stock, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover with a lid and decrease to medium-low heat or lower to maintain simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Uncover the pan and check that the rice is tender and done. Add cheddar cheese and stir with the rice until melted. Add broccoli and butter to the pan, stirring until the broccoli is heated and the butter is melted. Serve while hot.
This recipe and photo come courtesy of Julia from Savory Tooth. Stop by Julia’s blog to discover more one-pot recipes perfect for busy families.
My husband didn’t believe me when I told him that there was a run on Elmer’s glue this summer because so many kids are obsessed with making slime that it was hard to buy any. Later he sheepishly texted me a picture of an empty shelf at Target emptied of all its glue.
If you haven’t done made slime with your kids, it’s pretty fun. Both of my kids have really loved it and now have quite an impressive collection of slime. In a sealed container, it has lasted for several weeks. They are as interested as ever and regularly take it out to play with it.
Why do science projects with your kids at home?
It teaches kids about the world around them.
It nurtures curiosity.
It allows them to use their senses and get their hands dirty.
It’s a fun way to engage them on days when you want an indoor activity and keeps them busy. I’m all for letting kids be bored but sometimes when your kids are picking fights just out of sheer boredom, it can help a lot to have a great project to turn to.
Here are nine very easy science activities to do at home that use common items. Pick these up on your next Target run! (Or better yet let it be an excuse to go to Target.) I’m going to stock up so they are handy and ready to go when the mood strikes and we need a project.
#1 Slime
Ingredients: Elmer’s Glue, Contact Lens Solution, Baking Soda
Okay, I talked about this already but I’m just putting it here in case you haven’t done this one already. Here is the link to the official Elmer’s slime recipe. There are many different recipes on the internet but this is a great one and works with a standard 4oz bottle of glue that is easy to find now due to back to school sales. It’s super easy and strangely addicting to make. You can add color, glitter, or combine colors to make it customized. I’ve noticed that if a little bit gets on the hardwood floors, it dries and is easy to clean up. It seems to wash off clothes. But it’s huge pain to get off upholstered furniture and I usually control the food coloring distribution. Fool me once…
#2 Edible Marshmallow Slime
Ingredients: Mini marshmallows, coconut oil, powdered sugar
You may have done glue slime but what about edible marshmallow slime? That just sounds like my sweets loving kid’s dream come true. It is really sticky so just make sure you’re working on a washable surface. Dessert with a side of weird science! Get the recipe here.
#3 Homemade Hovercraft
Ingredients: Paper plates, straw, balloon, duct tape
An extra wide straw will work well but a regular sized one is fine too. Bonus – most of these are items are probably lying around your house. Awesome project for your little one who is obsessed with moving vehicles. Check it out.
#4 Salt Crystal Leaves
Ingredients: Salt, Water, and Fall Leaves (or Pipe Cleaners)
I love this idea. It is a great way for kids to engage with fall and do something with the pretty fall leaves. I live in LA where there are no seasons so everything helps. Plus, you can’t get more simple ingredients than these. I think they would look pretty hung up for fall decorations.
#5 Spaghetti Strength Test
Ingredients: Spaghetti, Styrofoam, books
A box of spaghetti and packing material you might already have lying around your house. Until they figure out a way to recycle Styrofoam this is a good way to reuse it.
#6 Soap Clouds
Ingredients: Ivory Soap
This is an oldie but goodie. Make sure to get the original Ivory soap because there’s something unique about that and it doesn’t work unless you use that kind specifically.
# 7 Jello Scented Playdoh
Ingredients: Jello, flour, cream of tartar, salt, water
You might have made your own playdoh before which is super easy and fun. But what about Jello-scented playdoh? Lovely and delicious smelling!
#8 Color Fizz
Ingredients: Baking soda, vinegar, food coloring
Again, baking soda and vinegar is something you’ve probably done with your kids before. My friend used to keep boxes of baking soda and jugs of vinegar in her trunk just for this purpose when she took her kids to the park. But this project goes one extra step to color the baking soda first which will make it that much cooler for your kids. We have little eye droppers for the kids to use for projects like this but straws work just as well.
#9 Rubber Eggs
Ingredients: Eggs, vinegar
I remember doing this project as a kid! Such simple ingredients to make such a weird and cool experiment. I can’t wait to do this one with my kids.
Color, mess, mixing up crazy concoctions in the name of science doesn’t have to mean driving around town to get super hard-to-find ingredients. These are all awesome activities to hold your little one’s attention that they will love and that use really easy, simple, and inexpensive ingredients.
Tracey a working mom of boys who loves to blog about that crazy journey at her site www.balanceisboring.com. She is a devotee of black coffee and list making and is an incurable loud laugher.
