July 21st marks a holiday that can rival with Christmas for my kids. Junk Food Day is the one day of the year that you can eat whatever you want.
For moms, it means you just have to close your eyes. The best part, though, is you do not have to constantly tell your kids no!
I have to admit that is my favorite part of the day. It gets old telling my kids no all the time. We don't keep sodas in the house so every time we are out my oldest is begging for a soda. It drives me crazy!
A one day event can be just what the kids need to get it out of their system. It can also be a day of fun cooking in the kitchen as a family. One fun activity for National Junk Food Day is making homemade pizzas. The great news is that it can be made mostly with stuff you already have in your pantry.
To make the pizza crust: Combine one and a half cups of warm water, three tablespoons of vegetable oil, one tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle two packages of active dry yeast over mixture, stirring until dissolved. Gradually add four and a half cups of flour, mixing well after each addition.
Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and place into a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for one hour or until double in bulk. Punch dough down, cover and let rise one more hour.
To make sauce: Mix one can of Tomato paste and one can tomato sauce together. Add Italian seasoning and pepper to taste.
After you have all the precooking activities done, the kids are ready for some fun. My son loves the next part. Allow the kids to use whatever toppings they want. We usually buy mozzaella cheese, cheddar cheese, pepperoni, etc. My son loves making faces and designs.
After the kids have fun decorating, back on 450 degrees until the crust is golden brown.
You can continue the cooking fun by letting the kids bake their own cookies. Get a variety of cookie cutters and bake then allow them to decorate with icing and sprinkles. Another option, is build your own sundaes. You might be able to sneak in some fruit with this activity.
Enjoy the day and stock up on antacids for when it is over. You will be glad you did!
