Have some fun with the kids inside while the snow falls outside!  Here are some fun things to make to play with and some fun treats to eat!

First, to Play With ....

Molding Clay

You'll have hours of fun making things from this easy-to-make clay!

• 2 cups baking soda (1 pound box)

• 1 cup cornstarch

• 1-1/4 cups water

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the baking soda and cornstarch.

2. Add the cold water and mix well.  Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is the consistency of mashed potatoes.

3. Carefully turn the mixture onto a plate, cover with a damp cloth and let mixture cool enough so you can handle it.

4. Place on a piece of waxed paper and knead until smooth.

5. Use right away or store in a well-sealed container.

Tips:  Use this clay to make ornaments, for molding into shapes, or forming pottery.  This clay can also be rolled thin and cut with cookie cutters.  Allow molded objects to dry at room temperature, on a flat surface at least overnight and up to 3 days, depending on how large the object is.  You can then paint or decorate objects as desired.  You can even glue on different objects like buttons, yarn, ribbon, sparkles, etc.

Play-Day Dough

This dough looks and feels like the dough you buy in the store, but it is a lot less expensive.

• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup salt

• 1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

• 1 cup boiling water

• 4 teaspoons vegetable oil

• 1/4 teaspoon food colour (any colour), if desired

1. Lightly spoon 1-1/2 cups of the flour into measuring cups; level off.  Save the remaining 1/4 cup until Step 6.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, salt, and cream of tartar; mix well.

3. In small bowl, carefully combine the boiling water, vegetable oil and food colour.

4. Add to flour mixture; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

5. Cool dough to room temperature, about 3 minutes.

6. Place a little of the remaining 1/4 cup of flour on a large piece of waxed paper.

7. Place dough on top of the waxed paper and knead in a little of the remaining flour until dough is smooth, about 3 minutes.

8. Store in a tightly covered container.

Makes 1-1/2 cups

Tips:  Kneading is the technique used to mix and work a dough in order to form it into a pliable mass.  Kneading is done with a pressing-folding-turning action performed by pressing the heels of both hands down into the dough, then pushing away from your body.  The dough is folded in half and given a quarter turn, and the process is repeated for the time stated in the recipe.

To make sparkle Play-Day Dough, add a small amount of glitter to dough when kneading.

Finger Paints

These are best when made the same day you use them. 
Great for a rainy or snowy day project!

• 1/2 cup cornstarch

• 3 tablespoons white sugar

• 2 cups cold water

• Food colouring (a variety of colours)

1. Mix the cornstarch and sugar together in a medium saucepan; mix well.

2. Add the water and mix a little more.

3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil and thicken.  This takes about 5 minutes.

4. Remove from stove, and set pan on hot pad.  Cool slightly.

5. Pour into 4 plastic or paper cups.

6. Carefully add a few drops of fool colouring (a different colour for each cup); mix well.

7. Use fingers to paint on heavy or glossy paper or finger-painting paper.

Tip:  How do you mix colours? - Did you know you can make a million different colours, starting with just three - red, blue, and yellow?  These are called primary colours.  How do you make different colours like orange, green, and purple from these primary colours?  The following are some examples:

• Orange:  Use 2 drops of yellow and 1 drop of red; mix well

• Green:  Use 3 drops of yellow and 1 drop of blue; mix well

• Purple:  Use 3 drops of red and 1 drop of blue; mix well

Ooze

At first you may not think this mixture will ooze, but just place some in your hands
and watch it slowly trickle out the sides of your hands!

• 1 cup cornstarch

• 1/2 cup water

• Food colouring (any colour)

1. In small zipper-lock plastic bag, place the cornstarch, water and food colouring.

2. Close bag and knead with fingers until cornstarch is well mixed with the water and Ooze is smooth.

3. Store in a well-sealed container.

Tip:  Add a small amount of water and stir with a spoon if Ooze starts to lose its sliminess.

Then to Eat! ....

Dirt Cups

This fun-to-make-and-eat snack can be made in many different containers.
It can be put into a clean and never-used flowerpot or sand pail for even more fun!

• 1/2 cup Watkins Chocolate Dessert Mix

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/2 cup water

• 2-1/2 cups milk

• 1 package (16 ounces/2 cups) chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed

• 1 container (8 ounces/1 cup) frozen whipped topping thawed in refrigerator

• 8 (7 ounce) plastic cups

• Decorations:  gummy worms, gummy frogs, candy flowers, chopped peanuts

1. Measure the Chocolate Dessert Mix, sugar, and water, into a large microwave-safe bowl; stir well.

2. Stir in milk; mix well.  Place in microwave and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes, take out of microwave and stir.  Put back in microwave and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes.  Take out of microwave and stir again.  Put back in microwave and cook on HIGH for another 3 minutes.  Remove from microwave and stir again.  Pudding should begin getting thick; if not, return to microwave and cook 2 minutes more.  Remove from microwave and stir once again.  Place a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper on top of pudding in bowl and let cool until it is no longer warm.

3. To easily crush cookies, place in a zipper-lock plastic bag and close.  Using a rolling pin, roll over cookies to crush.

4. Divide half of the cookies in the bottom of 8 plastic cups.

5. Combine whipped topping and the cooled pudding; mix well.  Fill cups with pudding mixture.

6. Top with remaining crushed cookies.  Put in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.  Before serving, decorate with gummy worms or frogs, candy flowers or chopped peanuts.

Makes 8 servings.

Tip:  To make grass for on top of the "dirt", place shredded coconut in a small plastic bag.  Add a few drops of green food colouring.  Close bag and shake!  :o)

Celery Carts

These carts can also be filled with other flavoured fillings using Watkins Snack and Dip Mixes.  Or try with cheese spread or peanut butter.

• 4 celery stalks/ribs

• 8 ounces soft-whipped cream cheese

• 1-1/2 tablespoons Watkins Garden Vegetable Snack & Dip Mix

• 2 carrots

• 16 wooden round toothpicks

1. Spray celery with Watkins Fresh Wash Spray and let sit for 3 minutes; rinse celery with water and then pat dry with a clean towel or paper towel; set aside.

2. Put the cream cheese into a bowl.  Let it stand a little while until it is soft enough to stir.

3. Add Garden Vegetable Snack and Dip Mix; mix well.

4. With a table knife, fill each celery stalk/rib with cream cheese mixture.  Cut each stalk in half.

5. Peel carrots and cut into 32 round slices.  Attach the carrot slices to the toothpicks so they look like wheels.

6. Place a filled celery stalk on two of these sets of wheels so it not resembles a cart.  Place on serving plate.  (Older cooks can poke toothpicks into celery before putting on carrot wheels.)

7. Refrigerate if not eating immediately.

Makes 8 carts.

Jelly Bean Nests

These cute and colourful nests make great Easter treats for your family and friends!

• Watkins Cooking Spray

• 2 tablespoons of butter

• 3 cups miniature marshmallows

• 1 teaspoon Watkins Butterscotch or Caramel Flavouring

• 1 package (6 ounces) fried rice noodles* or chow mein noodles (about 4 cups)

• Butter

• Assorted jelly beans

1. Spray each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray; set aside.

2. Place butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave on HIGH for 15 to 20 seconds or until the butter is melted.

3. Add marshmallows to bowl; mix to coat with butter.  Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds; stir with a spoon.  Return to microwave and cook on HIGH another 45 seconds or until all the marshmallows are melted.  Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.

4. Stir in Butterscotch or Caramel Flavour; mix well.

5. Stir in rice noodles or chow mein noodles, mixing until all are well coated.

6. With a spoon, divide mixture evenly into the 12 cups; let stand 3 minutes.

7. With buttered fingers, press mixture on bottom and up sides of each cup, making an indentation in the middle to resemble a nest.  (If mixture is too sticky, let it stand a few minutes longer or until firm enough to shape.)

8. Let stand until firm; remove from cups and fill with jelly beans.

Makes 1 dozen nests.

* Fried rice noodles are like chow mein noodles but are made with rice flour and are smaller and thinner than chow mein noodles.

No-Bake Cookies

These cookies are delicious and easy to make.  They go great with a glass of cold milk.

• 2 cups white sugar

• 3 tablespoons of Watkins Pure Cocoa

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

• 3 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)

• 1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla or Vanilla Nut Extract

1. In medium saucepan, combine sugar and cocoa; mix well.

2. Add butter and milk.

3. Place saucepan on stove over medium heat.  Bring mixture to a boil; stirring occasionally.  Boil 2 minutes.  Remove from stove and place saucepan on hot pad.  Be careful, mixture is very hot!

4. Add peanut butter, mix until smooth.

5. Add rolled oats and Vanilla Extract.  Mix until well coated with chocolate mixture.

6. Drop from a teaspoon onto a piece of waxed paper.  Let cool completely.

Makes about 48 cookies.

We hope you have a lot of fun with these recipes
- and that you don't have to wait until a "Snow-Day" to enjoy them!