To those of you who detest the smell of Play-Doh, I herald the mark or a new chapter in craft time. In a total of 15 minutes time, you can make homemade play dough, with customized colors and scents. It lasts for months- just pop it into a Gladware container! The best part- It only costs about 2 bucks.
What you'll need
2 cups flour
1 cup table salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 cups water
2 TBS vegetable oil
packet of kool aide (choose your favorite color/scent)
medium saucepan
medium bowl
sturdy spoon
measuring cups/spoons
combine four, salt, and cream of tartar in medium saucepan
combine water, vegetable oil, and kool aid in medium bowl
put pot over medium heat and slowly pour in liquid mixture
stir continuously until the texture of super thick and lumpy mashed potatoes, about 4 minutes
(this will take a bit of arm work)
pour play dough on a lightly floured work surface or large bowl and allow to cool for a couple of minutes
(this is a good time to clean up all of your equipment and put ingredients away)
come back to the dough and knead it for a minute or so, adding a few TBS of flour if too sticky, until smooth
TaDa.... Have Fun!
Thursday morning began at the most ungodly hour of 4:45 AM. I actually woke up at this time on purpose, as this was to be the last breakfast shared with my husband before he left for Hawaii for 10 days (extra wife points please?). His flight was leaving at 8 AM, and security being the way it is, meant that we needed to leave around 6:15, which would put me in the kitchen at 5. He requested fried eggs, cooked into oblivion just the way he likes them, with best ever grits and bacon. I added fruit for good measure, to try and stop the coronary. Grits, for any of you non-southerners out there, is simply a version of polenta, typically made with white corn. Polenta, to any of you non-italians, is basically cornmeal cooked in water until soft and porridgy (think a corn version of oatmeal). The secret, however, to making out of this world grits is to cook them in chicken broth, and NOT water. This imparts tremendous flavor to a dish that can very easily taste like cardboard. Add a little cream and cheddar cheese, perhaps some green onions, and you have the south in bowl, piping hot and delicious. And then you have the bacon... I once saw a shirt that said "I Love Bacon (and my wife)" which sums up this cut of pig quite nicely- everyone loves bacon. A Lot. You might not believe it, but there is way to make even bacon taste better. Bake it. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment (not absolutely necessary, but this makes for easier clean up), place a wire rack on top and line the bacon on the rack. Sprinkle with some pepper, garlic powder, and brown sugar, and bake at 400 until you see golden, sizzley, goodness, about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, in my heavy eyed hurriedness I forgot to add the brown sugar to the bacon (of course, the best part) and burned the bottom of the grits pan for lack of stirring.... I blame the lack of sleep.
Dinner was creamy, dreamy, lemony risotto, with peas and asparagus and chives. I forwent the grilled herbed chicken breast since I did not have my strapping man to feed, which was fine, because the risotto needed no dinner companion other than a glass of Chardonnay (much like myself apparently). Ironically, after our green risotto, I took my girls to see the new Shrek movie. Unfortunately for me, it is always Daddy who gets to do the fun stuff, while I stay home with the baby, but tonight I was able to join in the action and create a most memorable evening. Isabella and Josephine were each allowed to pick out a box of candy, making the evening all the more special for them, with arcade games after the movie as well (it is so much easier to really treat your children and create special times when they are not constantly expecting these things as a matter of course). The movie (also green and delicious) is a must see, more for parents than the kids. The story line between Shrek and Fiona is all to familiar between married couples.... Shrek is dispondant, missing the wild and wooly 'ogre' life he led before meeting the princess and evolving into the civilized father of three he now finds himself...after seeing what life would be like were he never given the gift of his family, he relizes the he didn't really rescue the princess- she rescued him. We can all (both husbands and wives) relate to that.
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