two cups of flour
a cup of salt
a cup of water
coloring paste
food processor
roller
spatula
sturdy drinking straw
metallic ribbon or raffia
ceramic glue
1. If you want to color your dough, add food coloring paste to the water before adding the water to the salt and flour.
2. Place the salt and flour in the bowl of a food processor and pulse for a few seconds. Add the water in a steady stream while the food processor continues to pulse, until the mixture is the consistency of cake batter.
3. Shape the dough into a ball and let it rest on a flat surface for about 15 minutes. Cover it with a piece of plastic so it doesn't dry out.
4. Remove the plastic and sprinkle the top of the dough with flour to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.
5. Roll out the dough like a pie crust until it is about three-eighths of an inch thick.
6. Cut some squares of paper the same size as the sides of the box you want to make, to use as templates when you cut out the dough. The three and a half inch squares on each side are a good size if you have nothing else in mind.
7. Using the paper templates as guides, cut five squares of dough with a sharp knife:four for the sides, one for the bottom.
8. Make holes along two opposite edges of each side bracket with a strong plastic straw. When they dry, you will use them as a string to tie the sides of your salt dough box.
9. Line a cookie sheet with parchment, then scoop out the dough squares with the spatula.
10. Bake the squares in a 250 degree oven for 5 1/2 hours.
11. When finished, tie all four sides together with gold raffia, knotting the ends together.
12. Glue the bottom of the box to the sides.
