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    Home » recipes » baking

    By Amanda Smyth 9 Comments

    salt dough + questioning my sanity

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    I routinely question my sanity.  Yesterday was no different.  It was a steamy 31C summer day on the farm.  The cicadas were screaming.  The frogs loudly predicting a storm.  Me?  I was sweltering in the kitchen, baking salt dough christmas ornaments for two and a half hours.  As you do, when you're completely bonkers.

    Regular readers know I’m a reluctant crafter at the best of times.  Crafting with my girls, the ratio of minutes kids enjoying activity to time mummy spends cleaning up afterwards is 1:2.  Skewed to them wandering off to something else and me left with a half-finished creation and a lot of solo pick up, pack up.  Yesterday I invited some older friends to join us and whadya know?  The extra encouragement saw the salt dough creations get finished!

    salt dough creations
    rolling salt dough

    salt dough Christmas ornaments

    Ingredients:
    3 cups plain flour
    1 cup cooking salt
    2 tbs vegetable oil
    320ml cold water

    Method:
    Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in oil. Gradually add water, stirring mixture until combined. Once combined, turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes until the dough is a smooth ball.
    Roll out the salt dough to about 5mm thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut out ornaments. Use a skewer to poke a hole at the top of each decoration. Place decorations on trays lined with baking paper. Roll remaining dough back together and go again.
    Bake decorations at 120C for 2 ½ hours or until hard and dry. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. salt dough gift tag

    The end results - especially the older kids’ creations - turned out beautifully.

    salt dough christmas ornament

    Why didn’t we paint them you say?  I may be crazy, but I’m not certifiable.  Plus I’m loving the simple look of the salt dough on this year’s real tree.

    what’s on your Christmas tree?

    macaroni bells and paddle pop snowflakes or glamorous ornaments and shiny baubles?

     .
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah @ Slapdash Mama says

      December 14, 2013 at 10:02 am

      They look great! I might make some! Actually, no. I won't. Let's be honest here. STILL THE IDEA IS AWESOME!

      Reply
      • Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says

        December 14, 2013 at 10:04 am

        Those are the words of sane woman, Sarah!

        Reply
    2. Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says

      December 14, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      Mine would just eat them, and so would I because I can't help myself when it comes to dough!!!!!!!!!! I have old candy canes on my tree and the kids try and eat them, some are 6 years old.

      Reply
      • Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says

        December 15, 2013 at 9:51 am

        I can just see it. These decorations are making me thirsty!

        Reply
    3. fitbms says

      December 16, 2013 at 7:45 am

      I'm like that Amanda. Better get this oven cranked up because heaven forbid, I don't want my kids missing out on making damn salt dough Christmas ornaments! LOL I rather they just do that stuff at school now. My days of cleaning up craft messes is down to just cleaning up after my own! LOL

      Anne xx

      Reply
      • Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says

        December 16, 2013 at 3:30 pm

        Collage? That's why there were six glue sticks on your book list darling. Do it at school! x

        Reply
    4. Sonia Life Love Hiccups says

      December 16, 2013 at 8:43 pm

      Oh bonkers is such a way of life isnt it. I'm bonkers but I blame the season, actually I blame every season and being a mum and being neurotic and ... you get the gist 😉 xx

      Reply
      • Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says

        December 18, 2013 at 3:36 pm

        Bonkers is my standard operating procedure too Sonia!

        Reply
    5. Cindy @Your Kids OT says

      December 03, 2014 at 7:10 am

      Great job! We are completely bonkers here too... driven crazy by eczema, heat, ezcema!

      Reply

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