Our favorite recipes for kids

Some for play and some for eating.

Yummy worms

Yummy worms ©Janet Allen
Yummy worms

Our grandson loved these "worms" from the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There website, and they're a healthy-enough treat that we didn't have to feel guilty serving them.

  • Mix together:
    • 1 Tbs. honey
    • 2 Tbs. creamy peanut butter
  • Add and stir until you can mix with your hands:
    • 2 Tbs. powdered milk
    • 1 tsp. baking cocoa
  • If it's too sticky, add more powered milk (but haven't had that problem).
  • Shape the mixture into little worms.
  • Use the back of a knife to mark the worms' rings.

Play dough (not a food, but almost as indispensable!)

Play-doh ©Janet Allen
Ready to play!

This is much better than the commercial variety. It has a better texture, it doesn't have any toxic ingredients, and it's always available in a few minutes.

Of course, it wouldn't be good to eat so much salt, so we gave it to our children and grandchildren only when they were old enough to know not to eat it or when supervised.

This dough lasts a long time when stored in a plastic bag.

  • Mix:
    • 1 cup white flour
    • 1/4 cup salt
  • Combine to total 1 cup liquid:
    • 3 Tbs. lemon juice
    • water
  • Add to dry ingredients:
    • lemon juice/water mixture
    • 1 Tbs. oil
Play-doh ©Janet Allen
It's hard to believe it will possible come together, but it will!
  • Cook over medium heat.

NOTE: It will look really soupy and lumpy until the last minute when it becomes thick. It's hard to believe that it will become dough, but it does!

Play-doh ©Janet Allen
Almost ready
  • Knead until smooth and add food coloring if desired.

Stored in a plastic bag, this keeps several weeks.