Bri & Aly

Briana & Alyssa spent Labor Day at our house while their Mom & Dad had to work. Chelsee and I entertained them with making homemade play dough, cut out sugar cookies (with LOTS of sprinkles on them), swinging on the tire swing, inside tent made with blankets over a card table, and a nice long walk. What a day, they kept us busy! But a fun day with those sweet "great nieces". They were pretty proud of the cookies they made and they also took some home to share with Dad & Mom.

Old Fashioned Roll Out Sugar Cookies

2/3 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons Milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt.

Cream butter; add sugar gradually. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla extract. Measure dry ingredients together, and blend into egg mixture gradually. Chill for at least 1 hour. Roll out to 1/4" thickness on lightly floured counter or table and cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 - 7 minutes . Yield about 3 dozen.

This is not my traditional cut out cookie recipe that I use at Holiday time, but this one makes a smaller recipe, and rolls out very nice.

Play Dough

This is a play dough recipe that I have used since my girls were little. We made it a lot. It is fun to play with, and works well with some of the "PlayDoh" toys. I got the recipe from a friend, Jeanne Miller, who had children in the same country school as my girls. They played together a lot.

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cups salt

6 teaspoons cream of tartar

3 cups cool water

3 Tablespoons oil

Food Coloring

Do not add the food coloring until after play dough is made. Mix all ingredients (except food coloring) in a large pan until smooth. Cook until no wet sticky spots are left. Let cool a little, then knead until smooth (the warm dough feels really good on hands). After smooth, I divide into 4 equal halves, then add food coloring of the color you choose. Smooth dough out, then place food coloring in center, fold dough over and start to knead food coloring in. I store in Hefty ziploc type bags in the refrigerator. This will keep for a very long time. Enjoy, you will love playing with it as much as the kids...great to make and play with any kids!