Tree Trimming + Flatout Bread Pizza Party

My mom had a birthday this past week.  To celebrate she asked us to join her for a Tree Trimming party.  The girls and I were quick to agree because we do kind of like the incredible woman we are blessed enough to call Grandma and Mom.

The birthday celebration was a perfect evening with good food, good company, and a lot of holiday joy!

We had a lot of fun pulling out all of the holiday decorations and ornaments that I remember from my own childhood.   I feel so blessed to still live near my parents and to be able to share these special moments with them as an adult.  My own kids are learning to love the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa just like I did at their age.

For dinner, I wanted to serve something that would feel special and taste delicious, but I also needed it to be quick and easy so we could focus on the evening's most important activities.  I settled on Flatout Flatbread Pizzas.  Six breads, six pizzas, six minutes!  (Recipe below)

Voila!  The Tree has been trimmed.  I do love a sparkly Christmas tree!  Now, my Mom is ready for another year, and we are all definitely ready for the holidays.  It is so easy to be happy this time of year, don't you think?  Perhaps it has something to do with all the sparkly lights and the good food.

This recipe for Barbecue Chicken Pizza with Spinach and Bacon was the perfect quick dinner for our holiday celebration.  I used the Heritage Wheat pizza crust from Flatout Bread and it was delicious. The bread also comes in three other flavors, Rustic White, Spicy Italian, Rosemary Olive Oil, which makes putting together an artisan pizza really easy and fun.   When it gets a little warmer around here, I can't wait to try these on the grill outside.

1 ½ cups barbecue sauce, divided

2 cups cooked chicken, chopped

2 cups baby spinach, chopped

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 can black olives, diced

6 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped

2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, grated

½ cup blue cheese, crumbled

One package Flatout Bread Pizza Crusts (6 crusts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.   With pizza crusts arranged on a large baking sheet or pizza stone, cook crusts for 3 minutes.  Remove from oven and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together ¾ cup barbecue sauce with the chopped chicken until chicken is well coated.   Pour remaining barbecue sauce on pizza crusts and spread evenly.  Top with chicken and all remaining ingredients.  Bake at 350 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes, or until cheese is melted and pizza is heated through.  Makes 6 pizzas.