Great Recipes don’t have to be edible….

Copper River Record  September 2017
By Robin Mayo
​​The weekend brought me an abundance of berries and garden produce, and the urge to try some new ways of preserving the bounty.
Browsing through the “Copper Country Collection,” Kenny Lake PTO’s excellent cookbook, brought many smiles and good memories.  The names accompanying the recipes are a wonderful list of past and present  “Who’s Who in the Copper Valley.”  Some of these cooks are still here, some have moved away, and some have passed away, but their memories live on through these great recipes.
The tiny section near the back titled “Kids’ Corner” caught my interest.   Although the recipes did not help me out with the abundance of cabbage, turnips, and blueberries currently overflowing my fridge, they are some of my favorites in the book.
How to Preserve Children       by Jan Carlson, Mother of 7
1 lg. grassy field
2 or 3 dogs
½ dozen children
A pinch of brook
Small pebbles
Mix children and dogs together well; pour them in the field, stirring constantly.  Pour the brook over the pebbles, sprinkle fields with flowers. Spread over all a deep blue sky and bake in hot sun.  When thoroughly warmed, remove and set to cool in a bath tub. Hug and kiss a lot.
Bubble Recipe    by Jan Carlson
2 c. Joy dishwashing detergent
6 c. water
¾ c. white Karo corn syrup
Combine and shake.  Let settle 4 hours.  Store, covered, in refrigerator to extend suds shelf life.  Allow to warm before using.
 
Homemade Play Dough  by Jan Carlson
Mix in medium saucepan: 
1 c. flour
¼ c. salt
2T Cream of Tartar
Combine and add to saucepan:
1 c. water
2 tsp vegetable food coloring
1 T vegetable oil
Cook over medium heat and stir (about 3 to 5 minutes.)  It will look like a globby mess and you will be sure it is not turning out…but it will.  When it forms a ball in the center of the pot, turn out and knead on a lightly floured surface.  Store in airtight container.  Note:  Recipe may be doubled
 
Play Clay   by Felicia Riedel
2 c. baking soda
1 c. cornstartch
1 ¼ c. cold water
Food coloring (Optional)
 
For colored clay, add food coloring to water so it totals 1 ¼ cups.  Use a few drops to 2 teaspoons.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.  When it feels like moist mashed potatoes, turn onto a plate and cover with a damp towel.  When cool enough to handle, start shaping.  Can be used for paper weights, fridge magnets, “fossils,” or with cookie cutters and molds. 
 
The Copper Country collection was first printed in 2000, and is still available from Kenny Lake School PTO.  What an incredible gift to the community!  

​A young hike participant at Copper Center School Trail.  WISE photo