My little girl loves getting into anything that momma is doing- gardening, cooking, crafting, etc. Sometimes I need to get things done with just one pair of hands however. One way I can distract her in a good way is by giving her play dough. While we have a lot of store bought play dough tools I always make our dough homemade. We have created many textures and scents- they are always a hit with my son and daughter. Homemade play-dough is not only very inexpensive but we prefer the texture, smell, and versatility of homemade. Combining her love of gardening and cooking I came up with this deliciously scented natural play-dough for her. While it smells edible, it is not, but made with natural ingredients you can rest easy and not worry about toxic ingredients.
Lemon & Basil Play-Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp. vinegar
- 1/4 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 2 Tbsp. finely diced Basil
- 3-4 drops lemon essential oil
Directions:
Mix flour and salt in a medium saucepan.
Turn heat to medium-low and add water, stirring well.
Slowly add vinegar and then oil.
Stirring constantly until dough pulls away from sides of pan and forms a ball.
Dump dough onto counter, allow to cool until it is comfortable to handle. Add essential oil, basil, and lemon zest, knead dough to combine all ingredients.
Tips and Ideas for Using Homemade Lemon & Basil Play-Dough:
Provide your child with spring cookie cutters, a plastic knife for cutting, silk flowers, flower pots, and other objects for playing and exploring.
Play-dough can last for months when stored in an airtight container. This is our first batch of this kind so while after a week it is holding up well, I am not sure how long it will last with the fresh herbs and onion peel, most likely it will just dry up a bit as they do. This would also make a sweet little Spring or Summer gift for a little one. Tie up in a plastic bag with a piece of ribbon or raffia, tuck into a small pot or watering can, and include a cookie cutter for ready to go fun.
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