Toddlers love texture. My 2 year old is in the stage where we doesn't want to wear slippers while at home. She loves to play with water. Giggles when she rubs her hand on my tummy and enjoys brushing my hair. Of all the toys she had, Play Doh has a special place. She received a set on her 2nd birthday but was gone in 5 days. I liked the fact that she likes it. But at the same time hates that a pricey toy goes to waste fast. Not to mention the stain on the floor and other fixtures.

I can forego the hate as long as she's happy. So to skip wasting precious money on a price-y version, why not make one. I came across a Homemade Playdoh recipe from Melbourne Mum. It does not require cream of tartar. According to her, cream of tartar contains aluminum. She's right, I don't want my child to play with aluminum.

1. In a sauce pan, combine all the ingredients. Mix well until homogeneous.
2. Place over slow heat and stir constantly to prevent burning.
3. Playdoh is done when the mixture changed consistency similar to mashed potato.
4. Food coloring can be kneaded with the Playdoh while it's still lukewarm. I also liked the idea of putting a drop of your favorite essential oil unto the dough.
5. You may adjust the oil to 2 tbsp if the recipe comes out too greasy.

Approximated shelf life: 5 days

Yield: About a size of 2 golf balls.

The whole process takes less than 10 minutes plus cooling time. The result will be an unlimited hours of fun (read: busy hours) for your toddler.

After a long travel, Patulid is always a treat my sibling and I look forward to when reaching home. Patulid is a soupy meat dish rich source of protein and iron.