Good to Know's Dan Pashman and Laurie March are pros at transforming a few simple ingredients into delicious appetizers, or a handful of household materials into dazzling centerpieces. To make this colorful fingerpaint, they turn to pantry essentials like sugar, flour and food coloring. The entertaining experts also set out pancakes and cookies to serve as edible canvases — after the kids put the finishing touches on their creative masterpieces, they can also gobble them up.

Yield: 3 to 4 small cups of colors
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy

INGREDIENTS

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
Food coloring

DIRECTIONS

Mix the flour, sugar and salt into a bowl. Stir in 2 cups cold water, then stir in 2 cups warm water. Divide among 3 or 4 bowls and add a few drops food coloring to each.