Brighten up your Thanksgiving dinner by making these Veggie Pizza Leaves! This appetizer is so tasty you'll want to have it all the time!
Being the middle of November it is hard to wrap my head around the fact that Thanksgiving is a few short days away.
To be honest, right now it's hard to wrap my head around anything. My beloved Snickers passed away early Sunday morning and I am a bit of a mess.
I always try to keep things fun and festive on Hungry Happenings, but today I am very somber and am having a difficult time finding the fun.
 |
| Snickers, you will be missed. We love you! |
Snickers brought joy to our lives for 14 years and saying goodbye was the hardest thing I've done in a very long time. Sitting on the floor with him at the vet's office watching him take his last breaths brought up so many emotions. The moment before he passed I flashed back to when he was a puppy and I had just met the man who would become my husband.
I remember watching the two play on the floor together, and that was the very moment I realized I had fallen in love. I shared that memory as Snickers peacefully went to sleep for the last time. We were now all on the floor once again, but this time there was no playing, only kisses and tears as we said goodbye.
I'm sure you'll understand if I'm absent here for a short while. I'll be back with some holiday projects soon.
I hope all of my readers in the U.S., have a lovely Thanksgiving. I will give thanks this year for having had Snickers in our lives.
Thanksgiving will keep me busy as we will be celebrating twice. This year the leaves of autumn have truly been an inspiration and this time I've created some colorful Veggie Pizza Leaves that will make a great appetizer for Thanksgiving.
Veggie Pizza Leaves
Ingredients
- per pizza
- 1 roll Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Dough Sheet* or a sheet of puff pastry
- a bit of flour to dust your cutting board
- ½ - 1 cup Philadelphia flavored cream cheese (Garden Vegetable, Chive & Onion, Spinach & Artichoke, or Sun Dried Tomato & Basil) - This will depend on the size of the leaf you cut. I used ⅔ cup on the large leaf.
- 1 - 1 ½ cups finely diced vegetables (colored peppers, broccoli, carrots)
- *if you can't find the dough sheets, you can use regular crescent rolls, just be sure to pinch the seams together well before proceeding with the recipe
Supplies
- knife or pizza cutter
- cutting board
- baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lightly dust a cutting board with flour. Cut a leaf shape out of the dough using a knife or pizza wheel.
Carefully move the crescent roll leaf to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Bake for about 8 minutes until golden brown.
Use more Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Dough Sheets to make various shapes and sizes of leaves for your veggie pizzas.
Spread Philadelphia cream cheese over the baked leaf. I used Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese on one leaf and Chive and Onion on another.
Both tasted great once topped with the veggies.
Sprinkle diced veggies over top of the pizza. I covered the entire pizza so that my veggie pizza leaves had a beautiful array of autumn colors.
I used red, yellow, orange, and green bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli. Adding brown mushrooms, green sugar snap peas, or any other fall-colored veggies would be nice too.
Storage
Store your Veggie Pizza Leaves in the refrigerator for up to a few days. When ready to serve, place on a serving platter or nice cutting board and cut using a pizza wheel or knife.
Related Recipes
If you have fun making and serving this Veggie Pizza Leaf, you might also enjoy making these other fun recipes.
Be sure to check out all of my fun Thanksgiving Recipes.
Recipe
Top leaf-shaped crescent roll crust with flavored cream cheese and fresh vegetables to make this festive fall appetizer that's perfect for Thanksgiving.
- 1 roll Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Dough Sheet (or use puff pastry or pizza dough)
- a bit of flour to dust your cutting board
- ⅔ cup Philadelphia flavored cream cheese (Garden Vegetable, Chive & Onion, Spinach & Artichoke or Sun Dried Tomato & Basil)
- 1 - 1 ½ cups finely diced vegetables colored peppers, broccoli, carrots, etc.
-
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Lightly dust a cutting board with flour. Cut a leaf shape out of the crescent roll dough sheet using a knife or pizza wheel.
-
Carefully move the crescent roll leaf to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
-
Bake for about 8 minutes until golden brown.
-
Spread the flavored cream cheese over the baked leaf.
-
Sprinkle diced veggies over top of the pizza.
-
Serve and enjoy.
Store your Veggie Pizza Leaves in the refrigerator for up to a few days. When ready to serve, place on a serving platter or nice cutting board and cut using a pizza wheel or knife.
I used red, yellow, orange, and green bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli to decorate my veggie pizza leaf. Adding brown mushrooms, green sugar snap peas, or any other fall-colored veggies would be nice too.
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Tiffany Yang
Hi Beth, I am so so so sorry for your lost. I can't say that I understand your pain because I have never been through something like this. I hope you are doing better now.
Also, I would like to thank you for giving me the potty training tips. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help! I have been using your "special treat" tip for quite a few days now, and it's working!!! Thank you thank you thank you thank you and thank you again.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Hi Tiffany,
Oh, I'm so glad the training tip is working. It is the best advice I was every given in working with a puppy. I miss Snickers so much, but am grateful we still have another dog. That has made the transition a little easier. Enjoy Hunter while he is a puppy. Just like kids, they grow up so fast:)
Urwiskowo
I am really really impressed! GREAT!!
Cheryl @ Sew Can Do
Losing that special friend is so hard to go through - I know how tough that is. Looking back on all the happy times you shared can help as time goes by.
You've made another fantastic food creation with this idea. Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do:)
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks Cheryl. Snickers was a fun, energetic little guy when he was younger and those are definitely the memories I will cherish.
Maryanne & Duke
I'm sorry for your loss, but I can imagine the wonderful life Snickers had at your house. My cats are definitely a part of my family and I feel very fortunate that each one has come to live with me. Here's to keeping the good memories foremost in our minds.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thank you for the words of encouragement, Maryanne. Every day it is becoming easier to remember the time when Snickers was vibrant and full of life.
CuteEverything.com
Snickers looks so beautiful in that photo! I understand your pain, we lost a dog last year and it was so hard on me. My daughter was with her when she died, and she told me that while she had been laying there for hours not moving, right as she took her last breath her legs started moving like she was running and had gone on to a world without pain. So that was a comfort to me. I love your leaf pizzas, they are so amazingly colorful, I thought it was candy when I first saw them! I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to follow your blog from the start, it's been so fun to see it grow!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Watching a dog suffer is heartbreaking, but for your daughter to have experienced the last moments with your dog and to have witnessed his last burst of energy, is pretty amazing. I'm trying to get the image of Snickers lying on the floor in the vets office out of my mind, and instead concentrate on all the wonderful images of his life, like the day I took the picture of him. We had just gotten our other dog, and they were running around our front yard, playing with toys. Snickers loved running and playing fetch, and I can see how excited he used to get. Those are the memories I'll cherish.
I'm glad you have been with me on this blogging journey. You were such a help to me when I first started, and I really appreciate that. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
Anonymous
I have just discovered your page. I am so, so sorry for your loss. We have two precious babies, Peppy, a poodle who will be 5 in March. Can't believe he's already that old, and little Trixie a rescue puppy who just turned 1 this month. Mom was a pregnant dump and drive. A man saw it and made a bed in a shed on his business property for her. When the two girls turned 6 weeks on 12/26 he rounded them up and took them to a shelter, trapped mom the next day and took her in. Sister was adopted the day before we rescued Trixie who had an upper respiratory infection at 8 weeks. Mom was trying to be rehabed but the lady who ran the rescue out of her home ended up keeping her. Putting our 19 yr old cat down was unbearable. I can't imagine life without either of them. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. Kathy
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
You certainly have a kind heart. Sounds like Trixie and Peppy are very lucky to have found a place in your family. Time does go by so quickly. My other dog is five too, and I'm so glad we have her right now. I can't imagine how quiet our house would be without her here.
I'm glad you found Hungry Happenings, and I promise, most of my posts are upbeat and happy. I'll be back soon with a new project.
J
Beth, my heart is just aching for you. I have known that pain as well. Animal lovers are beautiful, sensitive people. Snickers was a handsome dog and you made every moment of his life a happy one. Even his last was an unselfish act by you on his behalf. He is no longer suffering, and I believe with all my heart that he waits for a reunion with you in a place where there is no sorrow or tears! The life he had here was an enviable one and you gave him that gift.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I do believe that those of us who have pets know the wonder of unconditional love. I'm on my couch right now with my other sweet little dog curled up next to me. The warmth of her body comforts me and knowing I'll be reunited with Snickers someday, comforts me too. Thanks for your kind words.
HungryLittleGirl
This is so so beautiful! Very happy I found it!
I would love to have you share this and/or any other recipe of yours at Wednesday Extravaganza – my Link Party with a special something. There is a pretty nice Giveaway going on this week too. Here is the link:
http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/1/post/2012/11/wednesday-extravaganza-5-giveaway.html
Can’t wait to see you there!
The Partiologist
What a great way to get your veggies - super cute idea!
I know each day will bring you wonderful memories of Snickers. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks Kim:) I feel blessed to have met you through our blogs and am so glad to have such a wonderful caring friend in my life. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets
It's always hard to lose someone you love..but during a time when you're usually celebrating it's even harder. Snickers was blessed with a family that loved him so much. Praying for you and your family as you go through this very sad time. I was with my sweet dog Smokie as she too passed..just a very short time after my dear Daddy passed. My heart breaks for you as I'm remembering that pain. Hope you all can find your smile as memories of Snickers come to mind...
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I can only imagine the grief you felt with two such big losses in your life. I'm sorry for your pain, and understand it all too well. Thanksgiving has always been my husband's favorite holiday, I'm not sure it will be the same after this one. I'll be happy to be around friends and family tomorrow, and hope to laugh and find joy in the celebration. I've decided to put aside some of the work I planned to do in food preparations, just buy some things from the store, and spend the afternoon with my exchange student, my niece, my nephew, my husband, and some friends at Dave and Busters. We'll play games and enjoy some fun. I'm tired of crying and look forward to laughing and cheering today, instead. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
KarenB
Beth, I am so sorry to hear about Snickers. I have a 7 y/o Yorkie(the 1st dog I ever had!!) I NEVER understood the "connection" between dog owners and their pets' until I got my dog!! I can't imagine losing him; he has become my 3rd child!! Thank G-d, I don't have to go through Pre-school, homework or Science fair with this child! My 2 "biological" children are in their 20's.
I hope you get some comfort spending time with family for Thankgiving.
Happy Holiday!!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thank you Karen. I know some people who don't have dogs don't understand the connection, but it is intense, especially when, like me, you don't have children of your own. I got Snickers one month before I met my husband, so we've been together through a lot. A dog's unconditional love is truly an amazing thing. I hope your Yorkie stays healthy and happy for a very long time. Give him a big hug for me.
Patricia
So sorry to hear about Snickers. Your memories bring up similar experiences I had with one of my beloved dogs. I hope you keep your fond memories close...
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thank you Patricia. It's hard right now to focus on the good memories, as the vision of him suffering in the end is so strong, but I'm seeing flashes of him playing in the yard, sitting in the sunbeam in our bedroom, and sleeping spread eagle on the floor. Those moments make me smile. I'm sorry too for your loss and appreciate your kind words.
Jan
I'm so sorry for your loss! I lost my dog 3 yrs ago and she was almost 14 yrs old! It's very hard I know. When she was outside there was someone always coming over and patting her. She had to be put to sleep! She got cancer in the leg and gave her meds and it was cured! Then this woman took her for a walk (didn't ask) came back crying! A dog ran out of a house and bit her twice! Once in the neck and in the leg where she had cancer! The guy couldn't control his dog! She was all happy going to the vets and I know she thought she would be cured again. That was the worst summer ever but now she's up in heaven and not suffering! So even though your suffering terribly she was family for 14 yrs and not only 7 yrs. Right? That's the way I deal with it!
Hugs and prayers to you and your husband. I hope your pain subsides alot sooner than later. Your dog was a very pretty dog and looked very happy too.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Hi Jan, I am so sorry for what you experienced in the end with your dog. My dog was attacked twice by the same dog in our neighborhood, and aside from his death, those attacks were the worst thing I've had to go through with a pet. I'm more afraid of other dogs than I ever imagined I could be. I don't trust a dog, unless I trust the owner. I can't imagine having someone come into my yard and just take my dog for a walk.
He did suffer in the end, and seeing him like that was just awful. I watched as he fell asleep peacefully and took comfort in the fact that he no longer felt pain. I know he will always be with us in spirit. His time on this earth brought us great joy and that is what I will remember.
I appreciate your hugs and prayers and send them back to you.
ELISABETH. elisa2newyork (FRANCE)
Bonjour... Chère Beth, je suis désolé pour votre perte de Snickers, mes pensées vous accompagne et je vous souhaite beaucoup de courage.
Magnifique !!! Les pizzas feuilles végétariennes ont de très jolies couleurs.
Merci pour toutes vos recettes.
Bonne fête de Thanksgiving !!!!!!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Merci. Je vous remercie pour vos aimables paroles.
DLSarmywife
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your beloved Snickers. I'm typing with tears in my eyes as I recall how we played out that exact same scenario with our beloved Zeus this past June. He was 13) You don't know me from Adam, but I whole heartedly feel your pain!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks you for taking time to send your condolences. I feel very connected with my readers even though I don't know most of them personally, but it's so nice to read all of the kind comments. Our pets become such a big part of our lives that there is a whole once they are gone. I understand your pain and am so sorry for your loss of Zeus.
MomE
I am so sorry Beth 🙁 I remember when you first got Snickers - so hard to believe it was 14 years ago. It feels like just yesterday.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thanks Erin:) It is hard to believe Snickers was just a puppy when you were working for me. Time goes by so quickly. We have to savor every wonderful moment. I just stopped over at your blog and left a comment. I didn't know you had a blog, nor did I know about your loss. I am so sorry.
Reinette
I can totally relate to your experience. We adopted a stray whom we named Angel. She was with us for about 5 years and became sick. I too, was sitting on the floor with her in my arms in the vet's consult room when she took her last breath. On the way home through tears streaming down my face, I had the most amazing experience!!. All of a sudden, I had a vision of her as a younger, healthy dog running through this beautiful green field. I then knew without a doubt that wherever she was, she was very happy.
I'm new to your blog. Thank you for the very interesting pizza idea.
Michelle | Creative Food
So sorry for your loss! 🙁 Last year right before Thanksgiving our pet bird passed away. It was so very difficult to be thankful and cheerful that year so I know how you feel. It is so difficult to say goodbye when a pet becomes part of your family and your life. Everything you do seems to involve them so life seems so empty once they are gone.. It will take time to feel someone normal again. Again, sorry for your loss Beth!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
You are right, our animals become members of our family and are such an integral part of our lives. My other dog is a bit out of sorts, not knowing where Snickers has gone. We are watching my brother's dog this week, and that has been a good distraction for her. I'm sorry about your loss as well. It sure is hard when it happens during a holiday season.
Thank you for your heartfelt comment. I do appreciate it.
nikk
So very sorry for your loss. Reading your post brought back all of the feelings that I had from losing my own furry child in April. His name was Harry Dog, and he was the love of my life for may years. Remember all that Snickers brought you. My heart goes out to you as you grieve.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
I too am sorry for your loss. I understand how you felt about your dog. The bring such joy to our lives and it is very hard to let them go. Thanks for your kind words.
bakerunlive.com
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know from your post, that Snickers was well loved. I hope you are able to find some joy during this Thanksgiving holiday. My thoughts (and hugs) are with you.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them very much.