Cook up the best play dough ever

I know there are like a billion homemade play dough recipes. And being the awesome parent you are I'm sure you've tried a dozen of them already looking for the perfect concoction with a consistency that rivals that of any store bought dough. However, I'm going to share a recipe you'll be so impressed with you'll never need to try another one (or buy another can) again!

This recipe was passed on to me by my daughter's preschool teacher who has mixed up so many batches of this stuff in her long, successful career as World's Greatest Preschool Teacher that I knew it would be nothing short of awesome. And after my first attempt I'm head-over-heels in love with it.

Make the best play dough ever:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons salad oil (I used vegetable oil)
2 cups water
4 teaspoons cream of tarter
food coloring

Add food coloring to water (or add color to play dough after cooking). Mix all ingredients together. Cook for 3 minutes to the consistency of mashed potatoes. Turn on to waxed paper. Knead when cool. Store in airtight containers.

I loved making the play dough with my 4 year old daughter...Measuring, pouring, mixing, kneading...Even before we played with the dough simple whipping it up proved to be an educational and fun activity. Since the recipe makes quite a large batch of play dough my daughter and I thought it would be best to divide the dough into 5 balls and color each ball a different color. The small balls of dough turned out great! Safe, pliable, soft, durable, colorful, cheap AND long lasting (my daughter's teacher swears it'll last at the very least a month), what else could you want...Oh, yeah, I should also mention you can customize it with glitter or make it scented (did someone say vanilla extract?). Homemade play dough + kooky kid = fast fun!