Doh! (weensie alert)

Little ones and playdough go together like peanut butter and jelly. Sure those little yellow containers say non-toxic, but your nose keeps telling you otherwise. Make your own and you know exactly what's going into your dough. And it's a great way to spend time with your sweetie.

Well folks, you're in luck today, cause I've got a tried and true recipe to share. I've made it for years with kindergartners and first graders and more recently with my 2 year old and she loved it. What makes this a "weensie" you ask? Toddlers and preschoolers learn best from doing, so cooking and kitchen activities like this are perfect learning opportunities for them. Just remember, supervision in the kitchen is always a must! With the youngins, you can let 'em measure, pour and mix, but keep the actual cooking portion at the end to yourself.

In general, I'm a big fan of mise en place cooking and with kids I find it's essential. Trust me, you don't want to take your eyes off them for a second so you can find the salt. So set up everything (tools and ingredients) you will need before you start. You will need 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 4 tablespoons cream of tartar, 2 cups water, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil.

Here's what makes this recipe so perfect for kids, you simply measure and mix all the ingredients together (in no special order). Then cook it over medium heat, stirring until the mixture turns into a playdough like consistency. Turn out onto a floured surface and let cool. If you want to spice things up a bit, while the dough is still warm you can knead in some food coloring, glitter, vanilla extract or some essential oil like lavender. Store dough in an airtight container and it should keep for at least a month. Gather together some butter knives, a rolling pin and some cookie cutters and you've got a party!