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Homemade Play Dough
As 2020 rages on, I find myself looking for more activities to do with my kids. For the past 6 months we just kind of focused on making it day to day, doing some school work and some “home” work, such as gardening, baking, cooking and cleaning. Now that its time for school again, I’ve been trying to incorporate more education while keeping it fun.
Today we made play dough from scratch. I found this recipe online years ago and have kept a copy of it written in my books (so if its yours, let me know!). Making play dough can show children math and measurements (including fractions), you can play with colours to work in art subjects. It certainly counts as sensory play, digging your hands into the dough and kneading it.
I like this recipe because its very easy, contains ingredients I always have on hand, doesn’t include cooking and is totally non toxic. Here it is!
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
optional colours and/or scents (I use these cake colours, they’re much more vibrant but careful, they can stain clothes! https://amzn.to/2Rw5ML5 )
Mix your dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Mix your oil and water in a cup and slowly incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry. Add a few drops of food colouring (and/or your skin safe scents) and mix until your dough starts to form. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until its smooth. If your colours aren’t bright enough you can add a few more drops and work it in well. Store in a ziploc bag to keep from hardening.
Like I said above, I like that this is a non toxic recipe and I make sure to use safe for consumption essential oils so if my animals accidentally get into it I don’t have to worry. (My kids are a little too big to be putting stuff in their mouths anymore but you never know!)
Let me know if you try it! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @preppergal11
Home Made MRE’s
Have you ever opened an MRE (Military ration) and thought half the stuff was gross? Or been allergic to some of it? What about people with gluten allergies or dairy allergies? That stuff is loaded with wheat, soy and milk products. And honestly, a lot of people are just plain picky.
So I made my own MRE. I took apart some of my MRE’s that I got through the army and also searched through my cupboards. Here’s my example:
Freeze dried Chili Mac (made by Wise Company – thanks to TF for sending it!!)
Instant Vegetable Couscous (from a MRE you can make your own, just throw couscous in a bag)
Tomato Basil Rice (from a MRE but you can make your own)
Vegetable Beef Cup of Soup (grocery store)
Bread (from MRE – limited shelf life but I have seen people use vacuum packed tortillas)
Orange sport drink powder (from a MRE but you can get individual sizes at grocery stores)
Peanut Butter and Jam (from MRE but can get from restaurants)
Oatmeal (grocery store)
LaraBar energy bar (availbable here)
Salt, pepper, tea and sugar (available at almost any restaurant… well, buy your own individually wrapped tea bags)
Once you have everything you want, throw it in a bag and vacuum seal it. Or put it in a Ziploc and use a straw to suck out the extra air. I’ve seen people do their own MRE’s with ramen noodles and dehydrated vegetables, macaroni and cheese (out of the box), packets of tuna, soup mixes, anything really. It is easy to go to the grocery store and buy shelf stable items. Just pick something you like and that you’ll eat and throw it all together! Later on, I’ll give you some ideas for the little ones in your survival group
BurroakBurrow 