Simple Colored Pasta

I wanted to add colored pasta to our sensory table for our little guy to investigate color and texture.  Rubbing alcohol will allow your pasta to hold the color better and longer, but I warn you: keep all windows/doors open in the kitchen when you are drying it.  Or you could lay the pasta on trays covered in paper towels and place outside on a sunny day.  (I put our trays in the garage with the door cracked open for ventilation.)  Any way you choose dry it, make sure there is plenty of fresh air to eliminate the strong alcohol smell. 

 

 

Shopping List:

3 boxes of your choice pasta

1 box of food coloring

1 bottle of rubbing alcohol

Large Freezer bags

Paper towels

Trays/cookie sheets

 

Directions:

1.  Decide how many colors you will make and designate one bag per color.

2.  Divide the pasta among the number of bags/colors desired. 

3.  Mix 10 drops of food coloring (or more if you want a darker color) and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol together and pour into freezer bags.  Secure and shake until all of the pasta has been covered.  Lay the bag flat.  Repeat for each color.

4.  Let the bags sit for 45-60 minutes. 

5.  Cover trays/cookie sheets with paper towels.  (Bounty paper towels absorb the best.) 

6.  Dump pasta evenly on top of the paper towels and allow to dry.  The alcohol scent will go away the longer you let the pasta dry in open air.  (I made mine in the early evening and set out to dry overnight.) 

7.  Store in an air-tight container when not in use.

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