Puff Pastry Veggie Pizza with Garlicky Dill Cream Cheese Spread
Plus: Ringing in 2025, Jimmy Carter's Farm Bell Tribute, Scottish Family Tales, and Kitchen Adventures with Archie
Welcome to 2025! January brings renewal and fresh starts, painted in the deep red hues of its birthstone garnet and graced with hardy snowdrops and cheerful carnations pushing through winter soil. This month carries us from planting gardens and watching the wolf moon to honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and witnessing the Presidential Inauguration. As our flags remain at half-mast in honor of President Jimmy Carter's passing, we also look forward to celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming the Year of the Snake. As a Snake myself, I'm particularly excited to see what this new year brings!
This week, I’m featuring a crowd-pleasing favorite that celebrates the best of California's year-round bounty: a vibrant rainbow of fresh vegetables - crisp carrots, tender broccoli, cool cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, crunchy celery, and a colorful trio of peppers - all arranged on a creamy, herb-infused spread where dill-herb and garlic shine.
While this recipe has made its rounds on the internet (likely starting in Pillsbury's test kitchens), it entered our family's repertoire when my cousin Kelly discovered it after moving from Missouri to my hometown, Huntington Beach. As she and her boyfriend, Bob (now her husband), embraced their new California lifestyle of sun, sand, and ocean breezes, this fresh, bright appetizer became her signature contribution to family gatherings.
Our generation (now proudly in our 50s and 60s) has spent decades perfecting it, each adding our own twist. But one rule has remained constant: you can never have too much dill! The garden-fresh crunch and bright flavors made such an impression that it quickly became a family favorite. My sister even claimed it as her signature dish for gatherings and watch parties, where it consistently disappears faster than Hollywood drama. Speaking of which - with the Golden Globes airing tonight, this wicked-quick appetizer saves both time and calories, leaving more room for your favorite bubbly refreshments. A win-win for award show watching!
Puff Pastry Veggie Pizza with Dill-Garlic Spread
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12-24 (depending on cut size)
Difficulty: Easy
Equipment
10x15 sheet pan
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing spoons
Chef's knife and cutting board
Storage bowls and foil (if making ahead)
Ingredients
Base
2 Puff Pastry sheets (or 2 cans Crescent Rolls)
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh Toppings
2 celery stalks, small diced
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, small diced
1 cup small broccoli florets
1/4 cup tomatoes, seeded, small diced
1/2 each red, yellow, and green pepper, small diced
2 carrots, grated
Instructions
Heat the oven to 400ºF
Defrost puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight
Roll the pastry onto a 10x15 sheet pan
Fold corners and edges, then crimp the rim with a fork
Thoroughly dock the center of the dough with the fork tines. Note: Docking prevents the pastry from puffing like a balloon during baking. If puffing occurs, turn off the oven, return the pastry for 5-10 minutes, then gently press flat. Some breaks are okay!
Bake 15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown
Cool completely
Smash the garlic cloves under the heel of the knife
Remove the paper skin from each clove and trim the stem end
Slice the garlic, then mince it with the knife twice for a gentle flavor
In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, Mayonnaise, and prepared garlic paste, then beat until smooth
Layer celery, cucumber, broccoli, tomatoes, and peppers
Finish by sprinkling shredded carrots over all veggies
Gently press vegetables into the creamy spread to secure
Base Options
Substitute Crescent Rolls or Dough Sheet
Try spinach artichoke dip as a spread
Add ranch mix + Worcestershire for extra flavor
Topping Variations
Veggie swaps: cauliflower, hot peppers, snow peas, radishes, corn, olives
Protein add-ons: diced chicken or crumbled bacon
Make-Ahead Options
Option 1: Prepare crust and spread separately, add veggies just before serving (best for limited fridge space)
Option 2: Assemble completely and store in refrigerator until ready to serve (ideal if you have room)
Storage
Transfer to an airtight container
Store in refrigerator for up to 3-4 days
Vegetables will stay crisp for 1-2 days
If planning to serve later, assemble the crust and spread, then add vegetables just before serving for maximum freshness
Cover with plastic wrap or foil when storing
Party Tips
Best served at room temperature
Cut into smaller squares for passed appetizers
Can be plated on a decorative board for buffet-style service
Makes an eye-catching centerpiece for an appetizer table
Place small plates and napkins nearby for easy self-service
Drink Pairings
Prosecco or Cava - the effervescence complements fresh vegetables
French 75 or Aperol Spritz for cocktail lovers
For non-alcoholic options: Sparkling water with fresh cucumber and dill
Archie, my dedicated kitchen quality controller, never misses a chance to taste-test ingredients - all in the name of culinary excellence, of course! Even during our Christmas stay at a Templeton farmhouse, where he lived his best life running with new friends (two Chihuahuas, a Merle, and a Golden Retriever), investigating horses, and attempting to befriend a skeptical rooster, he’d dash back to the kitchen for his important sampling duties. After all, what self-discovered farm dog could resist fresh vegetables?
Our family's DNA journey continues as my sister and her children uncover more details about their heritage, particularly our Scottish roots from our father's side. While we await their results, our known history traces back to East Lothian (known as Haddingtonshire until 1921), an ancient county in the eastern central Lowlands of Scotland.
The Scottish connection runs deeper than just ancestry. My sisters and I seem to share not just our father's Scottish heritage but also a love for Golden Retrievers, Scotland's beloved export. Speaking of these gentle giants, Archie's recent Christmas friendship with Charlie, a Golden Retriever at our Templeton farmhouse, reminded me of this connection. Though I regrettably forgot to photograph their adventures together, watching these two similarly sized dogs’ bond was a holiday highlight.
Golden Retrievers, like our Scottish heritage, have a fascinating history. Bred in the late 1800s by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks specifically for the Scottish Highlands, these intelligent water dogs perfectly embody their homeland's spirit.
Our ancestral home of East Lothian, bordering Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, carries its own rich history. This region, part of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Bernicia, later became central to Scottish identity - legend claims the Scottish flag originated from a battle in 823 between Picts and Angles in the East Lothian village of Athelstaneford. By the 19th century, the region was known for farming, fishing, and coal mining, perhaps explaining our family's connection to agricultural life.
Long before becoming our 39th President, young Jimmy Carter’s days began in darkness to the sound of an iron bell ringing an hour before dawn. Yesterday, as part of our nation’s continuing tribute, The National Park Service commemorated him by ringing that same historic farm bell 39 times - one for each day of his presidency.
In his memoir "An Hour Before Daylight," Carter described their farm as “a fascinating system, like a huge clock, with each of its many parts depending on all the rest.”1 The bell marked the start of long days tending to cotton and peanuts, feed crops of corn, wheat, oats, and rye, along with sugar cane, pecans, watermelons, and vegetables.2 From sunrise to sundown, the rhythm of farm work shaped not just their day but their lives.
After his years in the White House, Jimmy returned to that same farm in Plain, Georgia, continuing to embrace the simple, honest life that began with those pre-dawn bells. Yesterday’s 39 bells echoed across the fields, reminding us of a farm boy who understood the interconnected nature of life, from the smallest farm plot to global food security.
Unlocked for all readers! Make your Golden Globes or NFL viewing party even more delicious with these crowd-tested recipes from our archives:
Bundle up with Betty Croteau's heartwarming Minestrone Soup - a family friend's secret recipe perfect for chilly January nights.
What family recipes would you like to see revived or reimagined? Share your treasured recipes or request a deep dive into a cherished family dish you'd love to see featured.
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https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/jimmy-carter
https://www.morningagclips.com/archery-to-annapolis-jimmy-carters-farm-life-part-1/
So nice to see all the old favorites I had as a child and into adult life. It’s nice to see them come back to life
It’s always so good to be reminded by the foods of what and where we were and the distance we have come I was reminded of that this morning as a older gentleman said how difficult it was now to walk and feel good But what a ride his life had been and no one take take away the memories
And one of the major memory of life is the wonderful foods we have all shared and enjoyed
Love the flavors on this veggie pizza Jennifer! Can’t wait to enjoy making this for my upcoming guests!