I realize I plunge ahead into the holidays before they are even here! The reason I do this is because I absolutely freaking love the holidays so much and the seasons from Halloween through Thanksgiving and Christmas are so very short so I choose to fully embrace them! For me that means I begin celebrating them and their flavors, scents, decorations and music as soon as I deem safe enough! When the kids have been back in school for a couple weeks and the minute Starbucks releases their pumpkin latte, that means bring on the fall decorations and the pumpkin baking and cooking! November 1st means I can add to my fall decorations and pull out all the turkeys and pilgrims! There is one ritual I have changed because I just can’t contain myself. It used to be my tradition that the seconds after the Thanksgiving feast was over to break out National Lampoons Christmas vacation because you can never get enough of Eddie and his RV ordeals and his children with the lip fungus. However, over the past couple years, I have to admit, I allow that movie to come out after Halloween is over. I cannot even count how many times in a season my son and I make my husband and daughter suffer through this movie, we have killed it for them! My son and I can end up in gut rolling, tears falling, cramps in the side  laughter at this movie and its gross twisted humor every single time we watch it while my daughter and husband cringe every time we load it into the dvd player! It’s just part of the holidays for us!

When I started making our pizzas last night for dinner, I went and searched my blog for this recipe thinking it would be a great re-post only to discover I have somehow never blogged this one before! I’m not sure how that can be since it’s such a fun and easy way to satisfy a craving for the tastes of Thanksgiving! This pizza is perfect for fall and it’s one of my husbands all time favorites that I make. While I take all the short cuts with it to simplify (except for right after Thanksgiving when you have all the real delicious leftovers!) you can make this pizza as easy or as complicated as you like. For a weeknight dinner, I choose simple! When we have pizza night I typically make 3 pizzas. One plain cheese for the kids and 2 of whatever flavors we feel like. Last night we had the Thanksgiving Pizza and just a plain and simple but perfect onion, pepperoni, green and red pepper pizza. Here is how I make my Thanksgiving Pizza.

 

Ingredients:

1 refrigerated pizza dough (I use pillsbury, and get 1 tube for every pizza you want to make)

1 box Stuffing (I use Stove Top lower sodium Chicken)

1 packet of chicken shortcuts (I used tyson, if you have leftover chicken or turkey that would work great as would a rotisserie)

1 jar jellied cranberry sauce

onion slices (vary to your taste)

Rosemary (to top)

Italian Spice (to top)

1/2 bag 2% Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup sliced Habanero Cheddar (Cabot)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and make the box of stuffing as directed then set aside. Spread out the pizza dough on your pan or pizza stone. I much prefer the pizza stone, I used a pan for this one as my stones were being used for the other 2 pizzas, but it’s your choice! One your dough is spread and prepared open up the cranberry sauce and spread onto the dough, this is your base instead of sauce. You may find it easier to spread if you mash the cranberry sauce up a little with a spoon so it’s softer.

Next add the stuffing on top of the cranberry sauce.

Now add the chicken and onions.

Add the cheese!

Now just top with your spices and cook for about 15 minutes or until done! This pizza is a total comfort food! It tastes delicious and is simple! After Thanksgiving when you have leftovers from dinner, this tastes amazing with the “real” Thanksgiving foods! Craving a fall comfort food, give this a try!