The Culinary Connoisseur
School’s Out
27
Jun
Jun
School’s done for the year and you need help keeping your
children entertained until day camp begins—right? Look no further than the
kitchen. Yes, you can mix up a batch of cookie dough or cupcakes for them to
decorate but sometimes you just can’t bring yourself to turn on the oven. We’ve got some other kitchen-based creations
that will make those hours fly by.
children entertained until day camp begins—right? Look no further than the
kitchen. Yes, you can mix up a batch of cookie dough or cupcakes for them to
decorate but sometimes you just can’t bring yourself to turn on the oven. We’ve got some other kitchen-based creations
that will make those hours fly by.
Using basic household ingredients can yield some pretty
interesting things—from clay to paint to bubbles. Read on for more information
and clip this column to your refrigerator for long summer days to come.
interesting things—from clay to paint to bubbles. Read on for more information
and clip this column to your refrigerator for long summer days to come.
This clay is entirely edible, if a bit salty, so it’s
kid-safe
kid-safe
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon cream of tartar*
Paste food coloring
scented oils–optional
*available at The Peppermill—this ingredient adds
elasticity to the clay
elasticity to the clay
Mix all of the ingredients together, in a medium-sized saucepan and stir over
low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes.
When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, remove the
pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.
Important note: if your clay dough is still sticky,
you simply need to cook it longer
you simply need to cook it longer
Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat,
and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth. Divide the dough into balls
for coloring. Make an indentation in the center of the ball, and drop some food
coloring in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of
the clay dough, trying to keep the color away from your hands and the counter.
and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth. Divide the dough into balls
for coloring. Make an indentation in the center of the ball, and drop some food
coloring in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of
the clay dough, trying to keep the color away from your hands and the counter.
When you’re done store it in an air-tight container. If
it begins to dry out, you can knead a bit of water in again to soften the
dough. If it gets too dry, though, you will have to start over—but that’s for
another day!
it begins to dry out, you can knead a bit of water in again to soften the
dough. If it gets too dry, though, you will have to start over—but that’s for
another day!
Sidewalk chalk is another great activity for kids. While
you can just go out and purchase a bucket, making your own is a lot more fun.
The best way to make it from eggshells—yes, the ones you were just going to
throw out.
you can just go out and purchase a bucket, making your own is a lot more fun.
The best way to make it from eggshells—yes, the ones you were just going to
throw out.
Better start saving them because your kids are going
to want to make chalk in lots of colors.
to want to make chalk in lots of colors.
The shells of 6 eggs
1 teaspoon very hot water from the tap
1 teaspoon flour
Paste food color
Wash the eggshells well, so they don’t have any egg leftin them. Dry them and grind them into a fine powder in a food processor. You’ll
need one tablespoonful of this powder to make a stick of chalk.
Measure the powder. When you have enough powder to make a
stick of chalk, sift or pick out any little bits of eggshell that are still not
ground up and throw them away.
stick of chalk, sift or pick out any little bits of eggshell that are still not
ground up and throw them away.
Stir the flour and hot water together in a small dish to
make a paste. Put the tablespoonful of eggshell powder into the paste and mix
well. It may help to mash it with the back of the spoon. Add a few drops of
food coloring.
make a paste. Put the tablespoonful of eggshell powder into the paste and mix
well. It may help to mash it with the back of the spoon. Add a few drops of
food coloring.
Shape this mixture into a small log like the chalk sticks
you buy. Then roll it up in a strip of paper towel and set aside to dry for one
to three days. Then just peel the paper off one end and you’re ready for some
sidewalk art.
you buy. Then roll it up in a strip of paper towel and set aside to dry for one
to three days. Then just peel the paper off one end and you’re ready for some
sidewalk art.
For really big sticks of chalk, try making 3 times this
recipe, and stuff the mixture into an empty toilet paper tube. When it’s dry,
you can peel away the cardboard as you use it.
recipe, and stuff the mixture into an empty toilet paper tube. When it’s dry,
you can peel away the cardboard as you use it.
Kids and adults are fascinated by bubbles—it will keep
everyone busy for a while
everyone busy for a while
4 cups water
Ivory soap bar, grated with a fine grater to give you 8
teaspoons of grated soap
teaspoons of grated soap
* Available at The Peppermill
Gently mix together all ingredients. Let liquid stand for
24 hours before using.
24 hours before using.
To make really big bubbles, pour soap bubble liquid into
a large tub or bucket. Bend a wire hanger into a hoop. Hold it by the handle
and dip into the liquid. Raise it up slowly and wave it through the air
gently—wow!
a large tub or bucket. Bend a wire hanger into a hoop. Hold it by the handle
and dip into the liquid. Raise it up slowly and wave it through the air
gently—wow!