The very thing for running around in the sunshine after.

• 40ml cheap, runny washing up liquid (the thicker ones might be better for washing up, but they make smaller bubbles so…)
• 200ml water
• 10ml glycerine

1. Mix these ingredients together well
2. Test the mixture by creating a large bubble – bend a clean metal coat hanger into a roughly circular hoop and dip the hoop in the mixture and lift it out. A thin bubble film should be suspended in the hanger which, if you swing the hanger around in an exuberant circle, should make a big bubble.
3. If no film forms on the hanger, add some more detergent and mix together again. If a good-sized bubble doesn appear when you swing around, add a little more glycerine.

Essentially you can make any amount with the proportions 4 parts detergent / 20 parts water / 1 part glycerine

Not for eating. But very fun to play with. My mum’s recipe, a staple of my childhood.

• 125g plain flour (1 cup)
• 100g salt (½ cup)
• 230ml water (1 cup)
• 2 tsp cream of tartar (you can do without this if you don’t have any, but the playdough won’t keep for as long)
• 1 tbsp oil
• A few drops of food colouring

1. Whisk all the ingredients together in a saucepan
2. Cook over a low heat until the dough leaves the sides of the pan
3. Tip out, knead briefly and leave to cool before you make floppy animals and flowers with it
4. Store for later in an airtight container and refrigerate