Party Foods #10 - My version of Veggie Pizza

     I did a huge amount of cooking and baking this past Saturday and Sunday. All of which I took pictures of, so that I can post about each item. I had also done a lot of baking back at Thanksgiving, which I had also taken pictures of, but have not yet posted about. So... I hereby forewarn you, that you are going to start getting lots of postings about food! Hope your okay with that.
     Seeings how next weekend is New Years and lots of people either attend parties which they are suppose to take "snackie foods" to, or, they make that type of foods to eat while watching the football game on New Years Day, I decided to do the posting about those type of foods first. (how was that for a nice long sentence? o;-p)

    We always get together with Brian's side of the family on Christmas Day. At my in-laws house. My mom always made the table groan under all of the food she made, and she didn't want any help in doing so. Over time, she had allowed me to start providing most of the desserts. Yup, she always made a couple herself as well.
     Dad had declared we were not doing Thanksgiving this year. But he did say we would still do Christmas. At his house. He just wasn't buying gifts for it, nor decorating. He had gotten out a few decorations. Mom had always decorated to the maxed out extreme! And he did give gifts. Each of the guys received a copy of the life span pictures of mom, which the funeral home had made up for her funeral. And us girls received jewelry that mom herself had picked out for us earlier in the year. Beautiful stuff!
    Brian and his brother decided that we'd do snackie type foods this year. We wanted to just think about the huge meals mom use to make, not look like we were competing with her memory. Thus I chose foods that I know my family likes, but were very different than what mom use to make.

    Besides the five types of pies we took (which will probably be the series I blog about after these snackie food recipes), we also took - Fresh Vegetable Pizza, Bacon Cheese Ball, Spinach dip with Pumpernickel, Shrimp Dip, "Italian" Meatballs in Parmesan Sauce and Sausage Dip.
     Today I am going to post about my version of Veggie Pizza. I have previously posted the recipe for the Bacon Cheese Ball. You'll have to come back and visit us again, to find the recipes for the other items. ;->

    First step is to spread your packages of store bought crescent rolls out on a greased baking sheet.

    BONUS TIP here -->  I used three tubes, and squished them together, rather than spreading them out as far as possible. Doing so makes for a light, thick "crust" base, which doesn't 'flop' when you pick a square of it up. :-D

    It's done when it's a golden brown color.

     Let it cool COMPLETELY!!! (In other words - go ahead and make something else then come back to working on this. ;->)

    Put your room temp. Cream Cheese in a mixing bowl and stick it in your microwave for about 10 seconds. Try smooshing it down.

     If it's not rather easy to do. Nuke it a bit longer.  Get it quite smooth. Then add in 1/2 cup of regular Mayo and regular (Liquid) Ranch Dressing.

    Add 1/2 of a regular size (NOT institutional size!) package of Hidden Valley Ranch(R) dry dressing pack to the cream cheese.

     Spread the mixture out on top of the baked and cooled crescent rolls.

    Sprinkle on a good layer of shredded yellow cheese. (I use regular cheddar cheese)

     Chop your fresh mushrooms into small bits

     and add them.

    I didn't have to chop every thing myself, due to having "prep help" on Saturday. :-D  Here's one of my helpers - my husband - helping. THANKS Brian!!!

    (the mess on the floor behind him, is just a figmentation of your imagination! o;-p  yes, he was ever so thrilled to look up and find the camera facing his direction.)

    Add the finely chopped carrots.

     The finely chopped head of Cauliflower.

      The Broccoli comes next. A BONUS Tip here about adding ingredients onto something such as veggie pizza. Instead of just sprinkling back and forth over the top, trying to eye ball it and make sure it's spread evenly, start in one corner of the pan and work your way over the pan. Ever so much easier on the eyes!   

     All the broccoli added on.

     Add the finely chopped red peppers. (and don't forget to snap a picture of them, like I did,  if you plan on posting this yourself ;-p)

      Use one of your hands (which obviously does not have to be well manicured or smooth in order to do a good job at this 8-b) to press the toppings down into the cream cheese spread.

     BONUS TIP here --> Doing so will help your veggies actually stay on better, rather than falling all over your shirt when you take a bite.

    Let the final product set up for awhile in your cold refrigerator before cutting it into smallish squares and putting them on a serving tray.

   And now for the actual recipe -
      My version of Veggie Pizza
          adapted from Pillsbury(R)'s version

   2 or 3 cans Pillsbury(R) Crescent Rolls
   1 - 8 oz. pkg. Cream Cheese - room temp.
   1/2 cup Mayo.  (not Miracle Whip this time)
    !/2 cup regular (liquid) Ranch Dressing
    Shredded Cheddar Cheese
    2 cups fresh Mushrooms, chopped
    1 cup finely chopped Carrots
    1 cup small Cauliflower Florets
    1 cup small Broccoli Florets
    1 cup chopped Red Pepper

   Preheat oven to 375o. F.
  
   Separate dough and place in lightly greased 15 x 10 x 1" baking pan (I use a half sheet pan). Press over bottom and up sides of pan to form a crust. Seal perforations.
    Bake for 14 to 19 minutes or until golden brown.
    Cool COMPLETELY!

   In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, dressings and mayo. Blend till smooth. Spread evenly over cooled crust. Top with cheese, then remaining ingredients. Use your hand to pat toppings down onto cream cheese mixture.
   Chill for awhile. Cut into appetizer sized pieces and tray.
   ENJOY! Because they are actually good for you o;-p!!

   Store leftovers in fridge.

~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;-> ~ ~ ;->
You might also enjoy these postings:

~ "Party Foods" -
   - #1 - Bean Salsa (also known as "Rugby dip")
   - #2 - 'Polish roses' and Pickle Wraps
   - #3 - Garden Fresh Bruschette
   - #4 - Deviled Eggs
   - #5 - Chocolate Covered Strawberries
   - #6 - Improvised Chili Based Dip Recipe 
   - #7 - Bacon Cheese Ball
   - #8 - My version of Fruit Pizzas
   - #9 - Brownie Cups

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:

  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
 ~ "Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits", hosted by Susan, at 'Permanent Posies / Creative Chaos' (http://permanentposies.com/)
 ~ "Totally Tasty Tuesdays", are hosted by Mandy, at 'Mandy's Recipe Box' (http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace'  (http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/).
   ~ "Foodie Wednesday('s)", are hosted by Bibi, at 'Daily Organized Chaos' (http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/). 
   ~ "These Chicks Cooked Link Party", hosted by Katie L, at 'This Chick Cooks' (http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com)
 ~ "Full Plate Thursday('s)", are hosted by Miz Helen, at 'Miz Helen's Country Cottage' (http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/).  
  ~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)  
 ~ "Simply Delish Sunday('s)", are hosted by KB and Whitesnakes, at 'KB and Whitesnakes Home' (http://kbandwhitesnakeshome.blogspot.com)