Homemade Koolaid Playdoh

Last night we made some homemade koolaid playdoh with the kids.  :) .  I went off two recipes, and tweaked them - one was for playdoh with food coloring, the other koolaid one. Both I had found on Pinterest.

Both recipes called for the same amount of flour, water, salt, and oil…. but one recipe called for 2 tsp cream of tarter, and the other 2 TBLS …

On hand we had Koolaid, Food Coloring, Salt, Flour, Oil, Creme of Tartor, and measuring devices, and a bucket of water.... spoons, cutting board, and a pan (we washed the last three things after making each one and reused for the next)

So … with Kaedyn’s (he used invisible Watermelon Kiwi koolaid, smells so good, and we added neon green food coloring and then added some reg green too) I put 2 TBLS in this one of Cream of Tartor in …  Dennis didn’t cook it long enough - and I forgot the oil, so we ended up using a lot of flour after to dry it out because it came out super wet and super sticky.  Whoops.  But we fixed it.

Nathan’s turned out perfect, he used Blue Raspberry Lemonade koolaid and added some blue food coloring.   I remembered the oil, Dennis cooked it until it was in a ball pretty much, and had used 4 tsp of Cream of Tartor.  It turned out perfect!

I pre-measured Nathan's things, I put the salt, 4 tsp of Cream of Tartor and the Blue Raspberry Koolaid in the pyrex cup, the flour in one cup and water in the other ....

Noah’s was Cherry koolaid, used 4 tsp of Cream of Tartor again, extra red food coloring so I added a little bit more flour again - maybe 3-4 tablespoons worth of extra flour ….  and his came out a little wet too, so we used a little bit of flour again while we kneaded it to dry it out.  

So Noah's was still wet and a bit sticky - so we added some flour to it ........

And as we kneaded it ... the flour would help bring the wetness out and bring it up to the right consistency.  If after the first dose of flour, if it's still wet and sticky, just add more until it's just right.

So this is our recipe …

HOMEMADE KOOLAID PLAYDOH

* 1 cup flour (may need extra flour) 
* 1 cup water (we used warm water) 
* 1/4 cup salt
* 4 tsp Cream of Tartor
* 2 packages of koolaid
* food coloring for color adjustment 
* 1 TBLS oil

Mix all the ingredients except the oil.  That is added last, right before cooking.  Put all the ingredients into a sauce pan and give it a good stir.  Add food coloring if you want a color adjustment (darker, different, whatever, have fun) …..  IF you add food coloring (and more than four drops) I would add a little more flour to help take care of the extra wet you put in.  We used 10-15 + drops in the blue and the red, and added 3-5 tablespoons of flour.  Use your discretion. (about the same amount you would sprinkle on dough if you were kneading it for bread, you can always add more later)    

After things are pretty well combined - I added the oil and then stirred it a few times, then took it to the stove.  

Over medium heat - stirring constantly for about 3-5 minutes, until the playdoh forms into a ball.  You will see the playdoh start getting thicker as it balls up a bit here and there, and you need to watch the bottom of the pan to make sure you are clearing the playdoh off that too, to make sure it doesn’t burn.  

When it is forming into a soft ball, dump it out onto a clean surface and let it cool for a minute or so.  Then knead it out until it’s soft.  If it starts sticking to your hands, sprinkle out some flour as you are needing it, and knead it into the playdoh until it’s dry and not sticky.  It’ll be a softer version of the store bought stuff.  

Store it in ziplocs or air tight containers.

April Fools Day!!

So it was nice to do April Fools Day this year.  With Dennis being sick last year and all that - we didn't do it.  Actually - I think we were all literally sick last year cuz we had planned on doing it.

Of course having a bunch of kids with Sensory Processing Disorders ... LOL.... we ended up eating most of it ourselves.  Well I didn't - but Cal and Dennis did - and Kaedyn liked the "hamburgers" ...

The "Magic Drinks" or "Deviation Drinks" came off of Pinterest ...    But basically - you are suppose to paint some food coloring on the bottom of clear cups and let it dry (thin layer of food coloring) ... and then cover up the evidence with ice.  Well, our "food coloring" hadn't dried yet and when I put the ice cubes in you could see the food coloring on the bottom a bit.  So we tried to distract the kids from noticing and it worked pretty well....

 We called the kids over individually and they were all amazed - "How'd you do that?" and I'd just say ... "Magic" ...  LOL...   it was cute.

 Cal got a light green, Kaedyn the darker green, Noah the blue and Nathan the red (was supposed to be pink) ...  All the kids drank theirs except for Nathan, he avoids red foods and doesn't like 7-UP ... but he thought it was cool.   I thought there was a chance he *might* drink it since it was pink - but it came out more red... he called it red...

Divinations Class Drink (inspired by Harry Potter)

To create this activity, you'll need:

• clear cups (plastic or glass)
• food coloring
• ice
• clear liquid (we used 7-UP)
• a sign describing what each color predicts. (which we didn't do)

The process is simple.  Well ahead of when you want to do it, paint a smudge of food coloring (I used reg food coloring, and that may have been our mistake, it's suggested that you use Americolor gel food colorings) on the bottom of each cup and let dry.

When the time comes that you want to use it, fill a cup with some ice (to cover the smudge of food coloring) and place it in a child's outstretched hands.  Show them how to hold their hands out on front of themselves.  

It feels strange and mystical, and is the perfect misdirection to prevent them from having any chance of seeing the food coloring on the bottom of the cup.  I suppose you could use an opaque cup, but then the end result wouldn't be nearly as dramatic.

Have the child concentrate on her future, then add the clear liquid.

The wonder and delightment is the best part.... 

You can see the original recipe and pictures at Tradewind Tiara's Blog ....

Funny story with the "Cups of Dirt" ...  or "Dirt Cakes" ... Nathan wanted nothing to do with them, again, go figure.  Noah and Kaedyn were very convinced that they were - infact - cups of dirt.  Dennis did them, and he was supposed to use chocolate pudding, but he didn't think of that ... regardless I tried to hand Kaedyn a cup and asked him

"Do you want to try some dirt?"

He shook his head.

"But it's really good...." and I took the spoon I was holding and dipped it in the top of it... pulled some out ... mostly the "dirt" ...  "Are you sure you don't want to try some?"

He shakes his head followed by a "NO!"

"Are you sure?" and I pushed the spoon towards him.  I kept getting shaking of his head and no's ... so I said I would eat it and pushed the spoon towards my mouth and acted like I was scared to eat it.  Pushed it back towards him and asked "Are you sure you don't want to try it first?"   He shakes his head again.  "Should I try it first?"

"Yes, Momma" ...

I acted all hesitant and then ate it.  His eyes got super big ....  asked him again, and he still said No....  so I said "What if I told you it was cookie dirt and pudding?"

So after a little hesitation he tried it and was all NUM ... lol....  then he went around the rest of the night talking about cookie dirt.

Noah was watching the whole thing.... LOL.... he was shocked too but after Kaedyn was NUM ... he figured it was safe enough and ate some.

We found this recipe on All Recipes...

CUPS OF DIRT

Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) package chocolate sandwich cookies
•  1/2 cup butter, melted
   2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
   3 cups milk
   1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
   1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  
  

Directions

Original recipe makes 1 - 9x13 inch pan

Using a blender or food processor, crush 2/3 of the cookies. Stir in the melted butter, then press into a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together instant pudding and milk. chill in freezer until thickened. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese into the pudding. Fold the dessert topping into the pudding mixture by hand.

Spread over the prepared crust. Crush the remaining cookies in the blender, and sprinkle over the top of the pudding layer. chill for at least 4 hours or until serving time.

Again ... if I had picked stuff up - I wouldn't have gotten gum drops with the sugar on the outside.... and I would have uses frosting or something do make the ketchup and mustard - or something...  and we didn't do the sesame seeds on top... nor did we "bake" them...

And again, this recipe was found on All Recipes ....

Ingredients

•  4 drops green food coloring
   1/2 teaspoon water
   1/4 cup flaked coconut
   48 vanilla wafers
   24 chocolate covered thin mints
   1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions

Original recipe makes 2 dozen

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, combine food coloring with a few drops of water. Add coconut and cover the container, shake until coconut is tinted. Set aside.
3. Place 1/2 of the vanilla wafers, flat side up, in an ungreased cookie sheet. Top each wafer with a peppermint patty. Place in the oven about 1 minute or just until chocolate begins to soften.
4. Remove cookies from oven and sprinkle each mint with 1/2 teaspoon coconut (for lettuce). Place another vanilla wafer on top and press gentle. With a clean paint brush, brush the top of each hamburger with just enough water to moisten so that the sesame seeds will stick when sprinkled on top of each cookie. NOTE: You can use canned chocolate frosting in place of peppermint patty, then eliminate the baking.

Cooking with Mommy

Here Kaedyn is helping Mommy cook!

 Mommy cut up Onions and Peppers

 Kaedyn helped out

 We cut up Zucchini and added Herbs ...

 Added some nummy sauce...

 Mixed it all together for some pasta and sauce!!!

 NUMMY!!!

Cooking!

Calahan was very proud of himself for making his own eggs!!

Cooking 101 - Pies & Cookies

Daddy, Calahan & Noah put on their aprons (note to self, by more "manly" aprons .. ha ha ha) ...  I thought penguins were great!  The one Dennis is wearing is the one Calahan made for me one Mother's Day :)

So the plan for the day....  making some Pig Ear Cookies (it's just a name people) and Chocolate Silk Pie  ...

We made them from scratch.  (Great thing about having Dad in Culinary School!) ...  First him and Cal started to make the filling for the pie... 

Noah is so silly...  he was waiting for his turn to do something, the graham crackers sitting there is for the home made graham cracker crust...

Here is Noah cutting cookies with Daddy

 

 Pie half done  (a smaller pie in a bowl was made for Noah)

Looks yummy doesn't it?  Dennis then gave Cal a bottle with chocolate syrup in it, told him he got to decorate his pie...  told him he could do lines, swirls, or write something....  so...

He wrote "DAD" ...  now this is a BIG thing ... Dennis is Calahan and Noah's step-dad for those who don't know and Calahan doesn't normally call Dennis "Dad" even though Noah calls Dennis both "Dennis" and "Daddy" ..  it has always been left up to them what they want to call Dennis BUT we make it a point that they always respect their Dad too...  so it was a proud moment.

Here he's piping the topping onto Noah's bowl Pie

BREAK FOR CRAZY FACES!!!!!!!

Here is Noah with his chocolate decorating! LOL...  He is going

and keeps going until he RUNS OUT

 Proud Moments

The cookies are done too!!

The best part of baking ...... eating the evidence!!

Even Kaedyn got into the fun (Nathan was sleeping)