Easy Salt dough Recipe.

One of my all-time favorite craft medium would have to be the humble salt-dough. Its one of those easy to make mediums where you almost always have the ingredients at home and the kids can not have enough fun with the endless possibilities. Ofcourse there are several variations to this recipe on the internet but I stick to my tried and tested recipe which has worked for me for over a decade. Here it is.

Ingredients : Salt : 1 cup Flour (all purpose) : 4 cups Water : 1 1/2 to 2 cups

In a large bowl, blend the salt with flour and gradually keep adding the water until a thick palable ball of dough is formed. Knead the dough firmly for a couple of minutes until it can stand on its own and no salt is left in the container.Wrap the dough tIghtly in plastic or put it in a plastic bag secured with a twist tie. Let it sit for a few minutes.

You are now, ready to play with your dough. This is the best part of the entire process for little ones. You could let the little ones play freeform or hand them a bucket of cookie cutter and let them have a blast.

After items are formed, set them on a baking sheet. Bake in 250 degree oven until items are completely hard. This can be from half an hour for small items to several hours for large ones.

Ofcourse, there are variations again.

* You can add a bit of vanilla essense or cinnamon powder at this stage. It will leave a beautiful fragrance long after baking.

* You could also roll the dough in a cylinder shape and cut 2 inch batches and add a drop or two of cooking color. That way, you dont have to color them once you have decided to mould it into your desired shape.

Once out of the oven, let it rest for a while on the wire.

And then begins the second best part of this activity : Painting The kids absolutely love painting their prized creations.

Spread some cling film or newspaper on the kitchen table or where you intend to conduct this activity ~ lots of paint brushes with pots of water , some acrylic paints and some poster paints. Voila ! BTW, dont be surprised if the kids nag you again next weekend for this activity

*****************************

Some tips :-

Keep all pieces of dough not-in-use wrapped tightly in plastic.

Store leftover dough in the refrigerator and use it within one week.

Bring the refrigerated dough to room temperature before working with it.

As much as you’d like to grab a bit into these “cookies” ~ DON’T ~ Not a good idea

Enjoy the salt dough and enjoy making memories.

Linking the recipe with the following parties :-
Tatertots and Jello
Whipperberry
Thirty Handmade Days
Ladybird Lane
Simply Sweet Home
Simply Designing
The Answer is Chocolate
Not Your Ordinary Recipes
The Best Blog Recipes
Family and Friendly Fun
Frugal Friday – Life As Mom
Friday
Remodelaholics Anonymous What’s Your Story Fridays at Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
Show and Tell;
Fancy This;
Tickled Pink;
TGIF;
Flaunt it Friday;
Tasty Creations;
The Humble Brag;
Follow Who?;
Happy Hour Friday;
Inspiration Spotlight;
Weekend re-TREAT;
Shine On Fridays ;
Fidlin’ Fridays
One Creative Weekend at One Creative Mommy
Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum
Friday Favorites at Simply Sweet Home
I’m Lovin’ It at Tidy Mom {requires backlink in post}
For the Kids Fridays at Sun Scholars
Weekend Wander at While He Was Napping
Lovely Crafty Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now
 Friday Favs at Nap Time Crafters
 Party Mindie Style at Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo
 Free for All at Young and Crafty
 Dare to Share at Pam’s Party Planning
 Feature Friday at Blissful and Domestic
 Shine on Friday at Happy Go Lucky
 Show Off Friday at What-About
The Shabby Nest,
Tatertots & Jello,
Simply Sweet Home,
30 Handmade Days,
WhipperBerry,
Simply Designing,
French Country Cottage,
The Answer is Chocolate,
See Vanessa Craft,
One Artsy Mama,
So You Think You’re Crafty,
It’s a Hodgepodge Life,
Tidy Mom,
Craftionary,
Five Days… Five Ways,
Release Me Creations

Thank you for visiting me today. Have a beautiful and thankful day.

I would love if you could share your salt dough experience with me too !!

Naush

Diorama Project for Artic Circle.

One of the biggest advantages of having a creative Mom, is you never have to worry about inspiration for a project. Although, I generally like for the boys to execute the project, I like to give them a brief idea for what would look appealling and informative.

Eman the youngest, has an artic project where he has to produce a landscape as well as an ecosystem.

It was meant to be a three dimensional project and I completly and absolutely loved working on this project. Playing with styrofoam can be fun but a challenge becoz its so darn messy. But the results are always stunning. We layered two different sizes of styrofoam on the lid of one of my large boxes for variation in landscape, and placed a thick white crumpled paper bag between the ridge of the styroform to give the look of a flowing river.

Eman painted it thick acrylic blue with streaks of white in between to show movement. Another 2 stripes of styrofoam were pinned with toothpicks to built the mountains.

You really cant work with glue on styrofoam and for a project which demanded so much glue, I wasnt going to use my E6000, so we happily placed tooth picks and that did the job perfectly well. A koka noodles cup was stood in the corner to form a small hill with chunky pieces of styrofoam scattered randomly.

Eman already had a couple of artic animals like the artic hare, fox, moose etc so all we needed now were some penguins. I will post in another post how we made Penguins, but some salt dough made excellent penguins.


The whole process took just over 2-3 hours including coloring and baking time and one super happy young boy !

I have directed the pictures in a way, that is a self tutorial. Please feel free to use the process. It is alot of fun, but I would certainly suggest, working with styrofoam outdoors as I learnt my lesson the hardway !

I am linking this post to the following link parties :

http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.ae/2013/05/five-for-friday-linky-party-may-3rd.html

http://iheartrecess.blogspot.ae/2013/04/monthly-goals-linky-party.html

http://secondgradenest.blogspot.ae/201Tuesday3/05/a-day-in-life-of-teacher-linky-party.html

http://lovinkindergartenwithmslindsey.blogspot.ae/2013/05/teacher-appreciation-sale-and-linky.html

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/05/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-193.html

■Show Me What Ya Got at Not JUST a Housewife {Max 2 projects}
■Too Cute Tuesday @ Funky Polka Dot Giraffe {Link up something you’ve made.}
■Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings {Link up something you’ve made.}
■Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios {A tutorial of some sort – craft, recipe, DIY project}
■Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm {Thrifty finds or Thrifty DIY projects}
■Tuesday Talent Show at Chef in Training
■Not So Tough Tuesdays at One Tough Mother {stick to theme}
■The Inspiration Board at Homework

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Be Inspired
Feathered Nest Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Shabbilicious Friday

■Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
■Friday Favorites at Simply Sweet Home
■I’m Lovin’ It at Tidy Mom {requires backlink in post}
■For the Kids Fridays at Sun Scholars
■Pity Party at 30 Handmade Days
■Friday Flair at Whipperberry
■Weekend Wander at While He Was Napping
■Lovely Crafty Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home
■Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now
■Friday Favs at Nap Time Crafters
■Flaunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
■Party Mindie Style at Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hypo
■Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
■Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home {Crafts or decorating projects, doesn’t want recipes}
■Tickled Pink at 504 Main
■Free for All at Young and Crafty
■Simply Link at Simply Designing
■Sweet Tooth Friday at Alli ‘n Son {sweet recipes only}
■Happy Hour Friday at Happy Hour Projects
■Simply Pin-tastic at Energizer Bunnies’ Mommy Reports
■Dare to Share at Pam’s Party Planning
■Shine on Friday at Happy Go Lucky
■Freedom Fridays at My Turn (For Us)
■Show Off Friday at What-About

http://www.dianarambles.com/2013/05/must-follow-pinterest-party-1.html

http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2013/05/treasure-hunt-thursday-106-most-viewed.html

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/05/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-47.html

http://willcookforsmiles.com/2013/05/the-wcfs-award-show-link-party-12.html

I hope you enjoyed the transformation from box lid to an artic landscape. If you have felt inspired to try something similar, I would love if you could also sent me pics of the same too.

Thank you for visiting me today. Hope you return again.

Regards

Naush

Labneh ~ Who ??

Wikipedia defines Labneh as ” Strained yogurt, yogurt cheese, labneh, or Greek yogurt is yogurt which has been strained in a cloth or paper bag or filter to remove the whey, giving a consistency between that of yogurt and cheese, while preserving yogurt’s distinctive sour taste.”

For someone who has resided all her life in the middle east, I really surprised myself when I actually wanted to investigate and try out something I always had an opinion about, having noticed this really interesting display of fresh salads with a tiny cup of Labneh at the Le Marche Market. What exactly did they mix in the bland Labneh to make it so tasty, I wondered. Although I have heard of Labneh nth number of times, but still have had a preconceived notion, that it is typically something that only the people of Levant like and it would not cater to the taste buds of us Indian folks.

And how my little experiment proved me wrong !!

Not only was my entire household licking every bit of the bowl from all angels but Ms Big-time-food-stuck-up-me was also relishing this super easy dip.

I would love to share this very simple recipe with all of you, my guests.

I dont think, anything, this delicious can be this simple but truth is, it really is.

Ingredients :-

1 packet of Lahneh (200 gms)
4 cloves of Garlic (crushed)
1 cucumber
a few sprigs of mint leaves
crushed dried mint is optional
3 red chillies (crushed into bits)
Salt to taste.
Olive Oil

Mix the labneh and keep whisking it with a fork till it becomes dip consistency. Add the crushed garlic gradually lest, the taste becomes to sharp for you. slice the cucumber with or without their peel, into thin slices and add to the mixture. Chop a few sprigs of mint leaves and throw it in. My Indian taste buds yearn for some tinge of spice, and hence I have added 3 crushed red chillies. You can opt for just one. Salt to taste. Drizzle alittle olive oil over it. Ofcourse, our house was far too desperate so the olive oil was spared.

If you would like, you could add 1 or half a chopped onion to make it a little more crunchy. (totally optional)

You can enjoy this as a dip with a bowl of sliced salads like carrots, cucumbers, celery, green pepper etc
Or it can be relished as a sauce with some khubz (arabic bread ) or pita bread.
Or it can even adorn your party table with some cheese sticks or tortillas.

With summer setting in soon in the west, this will make an excellent accompaniment with the barbecues too.

What I really found amusing is how, I had to ward off tiny fingers, for just a couple minutes so as to click a few quick snaps !!

Numerous ways to enjoy. Please share your experience here , if you have tried this lovely dip.

I am sharing this recipe with the following linking parties :

Flamingo Toes
Under the Table
I {heart} Nap Time
That DIY Party
Nifty Thrifty Things
Homemaker on a Dime
The Sunday Stop
It’s Overflowing
Bouquet of Talent Sunday Linky
Will Cook For Smiles
Bewitch Me & Titi
■Not “Baaad” Sundays at LambAround
■The Sunday Showcase Child Centered Linky Party at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas (kid centered crafts, recipes)
■Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming
■A Round Tuit at Creating My Way to Success {crafts and recipes}
■Marvelous Mondays at This Gal Cooks
■Sweet Sharing Monday at Say Not Sweet Anne
■Mix it Up Monday at Flour Me With Love
■Made By You Monday at Skip To My Lou
■Making the World Cuter Monday
■Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T
■Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple
■Monday Link Party at Craft-O-Maniac
■More the Merrier Monday at The DIY Home Sweet Home Project
■Market Yourself Monday at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
■Mad Skills Party at Mad in Crafts
■Craftastic Link Party at Sew Can Do
■Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

http://www.onetoughmotherblog.com/

http://www.cherishedhandmadetreasures.com/

http://loveolympiajune.blogspot.ae/

Many regards and Bon Appetite !!

Naush

Pepper the cat.

Introducing my very possessive and very confused feline baby : Pepper !!

This cat is nearly 6 years old and has adopted us as his family since he was a mere 3 weeks old. His favorite spot being Samie’s ears and shoulder !! Yet he suffers from a distinct identity crisis. He has difficulty believing he is a cat. Infact, sometimes, he probably believes, his brothers are deformed !! I mean,” why dont they have whiskers and why cant they run as fast as me ?”, he asks.

Like most domesticated felines, he is rather fussy about “when” he wants to eat.

The morning rush, is not the best place to be in my kitchen ~ I mean, its a chaotic place, where lunch boxes are being prepared, sandwiches, fruits and alot of imagination are being tossed around !! Yet, in the middle of all my running express trains, is Pepper, asking for his bowl to be filled just then !!! Well, I understand his logic … ” My brothers are having breakfast just now, so why cant I ?? “

Its a mothers plight ~ to give or not to give. So he has to take the backseat. And poor my darling, refuses to eat once the boys have left for school

He is hurt ~ he is disappointed in his mommy. And suddenly he realizes, the doors going to open and he has a whole “white” world to paint on in the courtyard and off he goes to have his morning basking session.

This little tot, LOVES to eat “literally” from the palm of my hand. Its his special treat. When I notice, a meal was not touched in the morning, I simply place it on my palms, and he relishes it so !! What a weird but adorable cat !!

Infact for a couple of his early years, this little bugger, used to use his paws to pick food and eat them – like us humans !!! I mean, who’d heard of that !!!

Actually he’s not weird, he’s just “still-searching for his true personality” and personality, he has in oodles. He is intelligent, he is handsome and he is super possessive about his mom, dad, brothers and home. (not exactly in the same order though ) Keiki our older feline is to him like Ode to Garfield.

Pepper, still has a tendency to suck my fingers and go to sleep after that !! He’s been doing it since he was a finger old !!
When we moved from Arabian Ranches to Al Warqaa, my primary worry was their welfare. I worried, how they would adjust and adapt to the new environment. The sound of aeroplanes, the sound of dogs and chickens and cocks ( all my neighbours are fond of raising chickens !!) I introduced the sourroundings to them very gradually after nearly a week of being restricted in the house. I also scattered some of their litter granuels in the outside fence so that other cats may get the message.

And yes, becoz Mushrif Park is just a stones throw away from home, we are visited by scores and scores of migratory birds of various colors and chirps ! So yeah, while keiki struggled with the new setup, Pepper took to it like a fish to water. All he wanted was to be with us. He needed security of his family, his brothers and his parents. He “almost immediately” claimed his territory here. Thank God for that.

Truth be said, there’s little we worry about our home on our holidays, but we constantly worry about Keiki and Pepper. They are such a huge part and integral part of our family that it just seems void of any “completeness” without them.

Here are some really funny and cute pics of Mr Pepper ~ the boy in a cats body

Carrefour Promotional Prices !! Hoax or Coax ?

Virtually every time, I have visited Carrefour, I have had a dilemma to deal with ~ to buy or not to buy !!! 2 weeks back they were running a “dhs 5″ promotion isle and although, this was meant to be an emergency visit to pick some washing powder and croissants, I landed up “browsing” thru this lovely colorful posters with dhs 5 displayed all over !! Before long, I was already shortlisting what I thought would be needed and what I could, perhaps, use at some later imaginery stage – of course you already know what THAT means !! Yes, that counter which is created just for the frugal likes of me, ready to display some delicious DIY and other haberdashery items. Ofcourse, I did not dive into the scam. I “tried” swimming thru it ~ while getting caught in just a few nets and traps. In the end, I came home with a “FEW” out-of-the-list items. I promised, myself, I would use these useful items at the earliest and I am holding onto that promise.

I love the clipboard with the coffee mug printed on it ! That, I have already put to use.
The “Shoes off sign, I love, and it is going on the main door. (Yes, for western folks, we dont appreciate someone walking into a spotless house with muck and stuff on their shoes – a cultural thing.
The staedtler pens ~ I absolutely love, writing and playing with striking colors rather than the boring black, blue and red. so there, now there’s plenty of colors to add some spark on my doodles.
Yes, ofcourse that kit with the hooks and frame holds etc is something, I already own. Well, maybe I own alittle more than 5 such pieces, but who doesnt know, just how handy they can be !!!
Pruning scissors ~ ofcourse, who owns a garden and doesnt have one. I did’nt and now I do. (so justified)
Glue sticks for the glue gun – I may have half a dozen packets of those, but who can blame me for picking just a couple more. Afterall I do use the glue gun a whole lot of the time.
The paint sponges ~ sometimes these things just disappear from the shelves in stores and when they do reappear, they are at a very high price so I grabbed some while they were at a great price.
The green wire cord was something, I dont exactly have a use for right now, but wont be long before I get my EUREKA moment

I bet, you can guess, just a few more wise uses for my new impulsive buys !!

I have linked this post to :-
Frugalicious Friday

Thank you for visiting me friends. Take care and happy shopping.

Are you good with Words ??

Someone out there must be “deadly” at Scrabble.(Wait till you see the last one)!

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES – LET’S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z ‘S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
I’M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

Paperworld Dubai

Hi Friends,

Paperworld Dubai 2013 was held between March 5 – 7. For someone who insanely loves paper and color, this visit was like diving into paradise.
From scrapbooking goodies to stationery to wood works to party accessories ~ this exhibition was stacked up with piles of eye candy.
Here are just a few pics of the stalls and their beautiful contents.