Homemade rice milk

After my huffy post about sunflower oil in rice milk, my sister asked if it's possible to make rice milk. I had never even thought about this possibility before, but lo and behold, it is not only possible, but easy! 

Cooked rice and filtered water in a blender. That's it! It tastes like it sounds-rice water, but as my plan is to use it mostly for cooking, I think it will be perfect. And you could add flavor by adding vanilla or chocolate syrup before drinking. 

1 cup cooked brown rice. 

4 cups filtered water

I added the water about a cup at a time so it wouldn't sploosh out the top of the blender. 

Blend! For 1-2 minutes until smooth. 

This makes 1 quart of milk. Shake before using, it really separates. 

Voila! Rice milk.

To test this rice milk, I decided to make a pumpkin pie! I love pumpkin pie. And winter spices in general. So... What's next? Rice milk tester, pumpkin pie. 

Toddler Fun: Homemade Play dough!

Play-Doh is so much fun! But it gets too hard too fast. Especially for little 2 year old hands! So today, Kat and I made play dough, problem solved! 

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tea cream of tartar

Stir in a pan with 1 cup water

1 Tbl oil (veg or olive)

Cook on med-low for about 5 min. Stir often until mixture is more doughy, stiffens and pulls away from pan. 

Stir in food coloring and 

10-20 drops lemon essential oil. 

Lemon essential oil adds a nice happy smell, it is revitalizing and uplifting. So even toddlers in their terrrrible twos may soon be in a better mood! 

Let cool for a couple minutes. 

Knead dough for a couple minutes. 

I added a little more lemon oil in a thumbprint hole in the dough because I wanted a stronger smell, I think by the end I had 20 drops. 

The dough was really sticky at first. I kept rolling it in flour and squishing and kneading until it wasn't sticky anymore. 

Ready! 

Store in an air tight container. 

And have fun!

Kat played with her play dough in a giant cardboard box- fun, clean, and less cat hair and rug fuzz to contend with. The homemade play dough did leave some oily spots on the cardboard box, but it's totally worth it for the low cost and high fun!

I think this amount of dough would be perfect for 2 colors. I only did one, but to make 2, just divide the dough in half after the essential oil step. Add the color in thumbprint holes and squish and knead it in until it's incorporated. 

For a gluten-free alternative use a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of rice flour and cornstarch. 

Play dough too dry? Add oil. 

Play dough too sticky? Add flour. 

Play dough too stinky? Add essential oil. 

What's next? Funny Toddler pants!