Our Clever Finds

Homemade Play Dough

Makes 4-6 colors · About 10 minutes on the stove · For playing, not tasting!

Not every recipe in our kitchen ends up on a plate! Making this play dough has become one of our favorite kitchen activities with the grandkids — any day of the year, rainy or not. The kids love measuring, stirring, and especially kneading in their own colors, and the dough keeps for weeks in an airtight container.

Once it is ready, the fun really begins. Our grandkids’ favorite game is a Play-Doh sundae contest — everyone crafts their most creative ice cream masterpiece and presents it for “tasting.” You have never seen such pride over a pretend cherry on top!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Food coloring

Directions

1. Whisk the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together in a medium saucepan.
2. Stir in the water and oil.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the dough thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pan — about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and let cool until comfortable to handle.
5. Divide the dough, add a few drops of food coloring to each portion, and let each child knead in their own color. (This is everyone’s favorite part!)
6. Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag.

Grandma’s Tip: A drop of vanilla or a sprinkle of unsweetened drink mix powder adds a fun scent to each color. And while this dough is non-toxic, it is very salty — so remind little ones it is for playing, not tasting!

Easy Tasty Lasagna

Serves 8-10 · Doubles easily for a crowd · Bake in a 9×13 pan

Ingredients

• 1 lb hamburger, cooked and drained
• 1 large onion, chopped and softened in pan
• 1 quart tomato sauce
• One 12 oz can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1½ teaspoons black pepper
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• One 16 oz container cottage cheese (may need an extra 8 oz to fully cover two layers)
• 10-12 oven-ready lasagna pasta sheets
• 2 lbs shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Brown the hamburger and drain well. Soften the chopped onion in the same pan.
2. Mix the meat and onion with the tomato sauce, tomato paste, parsley, sugar, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Layer in the pan: first the meat and sauce mixture, then a layer of the dry, uncooked oven-ready noodles, then a layer of cottage cheese. Repeat the layers once more.
4. Top with all of the shredded mozzarella cheese — yes, it seems like a lot, but trust the process!
5. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes, until cooked through and the cheese is melted.

Slow Cooker Coney Island Hot Dogs

Serves 8 · Our family get-together favorite · Doubles easily · Made in a 3 qt slow cooker

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (90% lean)
• One 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1/2 to 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• Dash cayenne pepper
• 8 hot dogs
• 8 hot dog buns, split

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink, then drain.
2. Stir in the tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, dried minced onion, and seasonings.
3. Place the hot dogs in a 3 qt slow cooker and top with the beef mixture. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
4. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

Chopped onions and mustard give it that authentic Coney Island taste — really delicious.