Have you ever noticed that when someone offends you, every conversation, every encounter with that person, is skewed? They walk by and say, “Hi” but you are certain the inflection in their voice was really saying,“@#*&#%!” That person drops a document off at your desk and you are SURE they only came by to spy on you! Yet in most cases, that person never even knows you’re upset with them.
When you finally let go of your offense, all those little incidents you had built up in your mind seem like no big deal. Probably because they weren’t.
I consider myself a pretty forgiving person. I have a vast array of quirky friends and family members (love you guys) and generally put up with all sorts of shenanigans. They may do things I disagree with, but I can usually lay those things aside as “our differences” and move forward. Yet there is one thing I cannot put up with, and that is someone hurting a loved-one.
Hand crafted cutting board from Asheville’s Wooden Bowl Store.
There is a particular person that hurt one of my family members years ago that I STILL have a hard time forgiving. I tell myself I have forgiven him, but really I just shove the hurt aside and try not to think about it. Every time that person crosses my mind a deep fiery anger rises inside of me. Every time I meet someone that reminds me of that person, I want to start swinging fists.
This is a problem, not only for me, but for the poor unfortunate soul that walks into my world and happens to resemble the old foe.
A good friend recently made a profound statement that made me realize I needed to deal with this once-and-for-all. He said, “Holding onto offense is like taking poison and waiting for someone else to die.” I may have every right to be angry with that person, but it doesn’t hurt anyone but MYSELF to hold on to it.
In order to deal with something you HAVE to think about it. Then you process, scream, pray, cry, and resolve to move on. Real forgiveness is something you do again and again…and every time it becomes a little more true.
Now, I know that has nothing to do with Veggie Flat Bread. *smile* I just felt like maybe someone needed to read this today, but I hate to leave things disjointed.
So I’ll try to turn this into an analogy if you’d like. Ahem…
“Forgiveness is like Vegetable Flat Bread because it’s FILLED with pleasant surprises.”
“An offended woman is a Vegetable Flat Bread with no yeast; it may be pretty on the outside but it will never RISE to it’s full potential.”
“LAYER your Vegetable Flat Bread like you offer forgiveness, with intentional delicacy and repetition!”
How was that???
That’s definitely how I would suggest you address this flat bread, with repetition and delicacy. This easy Roasted Veggie Flat Bread is quick to put together and such a show-stopper! It’s perfect for a party, brunch, or to accompany a fresh green salad. Simply roll, spread, fold, spread, and top with vegetables.
It’s easy on the eyes and a treat for the taste buds!
To prepare:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the dough into a large rectangle and place on a piece of parchment paper sprayed with non-stick spray. Spread half the goat cheese onto one half of the dough. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan cheese and half the dill.
Carefully fold the other half of the dough on top of the cheese. Spread and sprinkle remaining goat cheese and Parmesan.
Layer the veggies over the top, creating a pretty pattern. Brush olive oil over the top of the vegetables and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and remaining dill.
Recipe: Roasted Veggie Flat Bread
Ingredients
- 16 oz. refrigerated or frozen pizza dough (or make your own)
- 6 oz. soft goat cheese or herb cheese spread, divided
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 3 Tb. chopped fresh dill, divided
- 1 small red onion, sliced thinly
- 1 small zucchini, sliced thinly
- 2 small tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 small red pepper, thinly sliced into rings
- Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the dough into a large rectangle and place on a piece of parchment paper sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Spread half the goat cheese onto one half of the dough. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan cheese and half the dill.
- Carefully fold the other half of the dough on top of the cheese. Spread and sprinkle remaining goat cheese and Parmesan.
- Layer the vegetables over the top, creating a pretty pattern. Brush olive oil over the top of the veggies and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and remaining dill.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes—until edges are medium brown. Cut in half, lengthwise. Then slice in long 2-inch slices and serve warm.
Preparation time: 20 minute(s)
Cooking time: 25 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 12 pieces
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. ~Lewis B. Smedes
Dang, that flatbread looks out of control delicious! Yum!
You can also let out a lot of anger kneading the dough you prepare yourself. I hope you wouldn’t have to prepare it to often.
It is comforting to know that other people struggle with forgiving others…and also overcome hurts and growing from it. Great words, I love the quotes you came up with. I will definitely need to remember those. I think it ties in nicely — and what a tasty treat to remember these by! Looks delicious…lucky me, I just bought some pizza dough.
I like this analogy…and therapy! Kneading dough is a great way to release. It IS so hard sometimes, but time does actually work. Sounds like you are on the right path to heal you – never mind that person. In the meantime, totally cool to kick, scream, put that person’s photo on a punching bag and go at it!! And then eat this gorgeous flatbread.
Oh my.. the red peppers, aren’t they just full of flavour? Red or Yellow are my favs. divine looking photos. I’m salivating.
wow this looks fantastic! Homemade dough with some seasonal fresh veggies…just the way I love my flatbread!
That flatbread looks mouthwatering! All those veggies on top… yummy
Very yummy looking! That flat bread looks so mouthwatering.
Cheers,
Rosa
That quote from your friend is a keeper. I love it and am writing it down to share with my children. I am not too sure I could convince them about the forgiveness/flatbread connection, though
. It does indeed take a lot to forgive those who have wronged loved ones….
Your flatbread is bursting with so many wonderful vegetables. It looks delicious.
The roasted veggies on a flat bread sound delicious and I love the goat cheese here!
I love your post today. What your friend said is so true. Your flatbread looks so delicious – it makes me want to go make some right this second!
This looks PERFECT.
Yum! that looks so delicious! Flat bread and goat cheese, mmmmmm. Wish I had a slice.
I would like some of this right away – can you please post some to Dublin?!
Love this flatbread recipe and the gorgeous veggies on top. Fantastic flatbread/forgiveness comparison.;)Happy Monday, Sommer!
Haha cute analogy! The flat-bread looks absolutely gorgeous and soooo full of flavor! Delicious!
That is a beautiful sentiment and neatly sums up what it is like to hold onto hurt and betrayal. I don’t know if it makes it any easier to let go of that hurt, some people go their entire life feeling betrayed but I do think it is a start. Why is it so hard to forgive? I guess if I had the answer I’d be rich and probably still talking to an ex-boyfriend or two!
This flat bread has me smitten. The fact that you added a layer of cheese then folded it over has me absolutely impressed. Dressed up with a salad by its side you have lovely dinner. Thank you for sharing.
I find it really hard sometimes to forgive people that hurt me or my loved ones. I know that anger is a burden that we shouldn’t be carrying only soemtimes it is difficult to get rid of it! Your bread perhaps will help you forget about it at least for as long as it will take you to eat it!
Oh my god…this is looking absolutely fantastic. Loved the fresh base style and the roasted veggies on top of it. It must be a true delight to have this. I have bookmarked this recipe to try my hands on it asap, but great post !
Loved this post. This recipe looks so wonderful.
It’s times like this that I curse my husband for not liking goat cheese! Although this looks so beautiful, I just might have to make it anyway. Very nicely done.
This looks gorgeous and delicious! My husband too doesn’t like goat cheese, but maybe he won’t notice if I sneak it in
If goat cheese doesn’t work for your family, try this with herb cheese spread!
Sensational flat bread…and I also enjoyed your musings on forgiveness…a good reminder that it may be most healthy to just let it go~
Oh my!!!!! This just looks beyond incredible! I have to try this!!
my hubby’s fave is pizza – he is going to LOVE this flatbread! thanks for sharing : j
This flatbread looks great! I am a sucker for pizzas or anything remotely resembling one AND ive really been meaning to make flatbread. This is the perfect recipe for me right now. Thanks
I am loving this flatbread. Mostly for the colors. It just JUMPS right out at you. But it’s also simple and quick. My kind of recipes. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so tickled about the giveaway.
Rawrr!
Ok this pizza looks just perfect. I crave the roasted veggies now. I might have to put pizza on the menu this weekend.
Yum! Herb cheese spread sounds good as well. Thanks for the inspiration
LOL nice try. I believe you almost made the transition into the flat bread work. Love love the bautiful flat bread btw.
Beautiful photos of one of our favorite lunches! Great recipe! Thanks!
ok, that looks SOOOOO good right now. i’ve been craving veggies SO much with this pregnancy, but unfortunately i think goat cheese (as much as i adore it) is out until the babe comes. *sigh…
That is just out of control good! A stuffed crust??? OMG Sommer, it is marvelous and vegetarian too…a win-win on all accounts
chow! Devaki @ http://www.weavethousandflavors.com
I like that profound statement your friend made and will have to ponder this for a while
)
Your flat bread is quite the showstopper with all of the gorgeous vegetables and I can only imagine how delicious this would be with a nice glass of wine!
That looks great. Goat cheese is one of my favorite type of cheeses.
Beautiful Colorful Flat Bread! I want a bite
I totally love the toppings !
Have a great Day!
Cheers,
Aldy.
This is fantastic! Wonderful flavors, and it looks easy and quick to make. I love the crust!
I’m loving your arrangement of veggies in the flat bread, so colorful and pretty. I like your description of ‘fists flying’, I like a girl with determination and passion;-)
I love the layering of the cheese in the dough! Great touch! And the colors of all the fresh veggies look so beautiful!
this looks absolutely amazing.. i could almost smell and taste it…
Just gorgeous , I can actually smell it , yummmmm!!!
I was working on flat bread, just before leaving for BA…Confession? I think yours is better !!!
If Life is either a box of chocolates or veggie flatbread, I’ll take the flatbread, please. Cheers!
Gorgeous and amazing looking flat bread- loved the recipe
That is one delicious looking flat bread.
Sommer, what a lovely bread, love the idea of all the yummie vegetables on it. Beautifully done!
I love the technique of spreading the goat cheese on the dough and folding it in half. That way, you get cheesy goodness throughout
And might I complement you on a fabulous segue into a delicious recipe? 
Kudos to you for embracing the forgiveness. When somebody’s hurt you or a loved one, it’s always hard to let it go and move on, but well worth the effort in the end. Plus, you get to enjoy yummy veggie flatbread! That’s definitely a major reward.
Kneading is a great way to release stress/ anger =) Looks so yummy!
Sommer your posts get better and better!!! I loved this one on forgiveness! You could change the receipe name to “Forgiveness Bread” just to tie it back together with your wonderful blog to all of us!!!! Can’t wait to try this for my family!!
love this post! surprisingly meaty content with a yummy-looking veggie recipe on the side. thanks, Spicy!!
I loved your analogy between forgiveness and this flatbread! And I would love to have this flatbread for dinner tonight
Oh Sommer! I love your new blog design, it looks bright, vibrant and so cheerful! and this flat bread to die for. What would be the difference between flat bread and pizza? I am trying to find the translation in French for flat bread but I have no idea. Well no matter what, I would eat your whole flat bread in a second!
An offended woman is a Veggie Flat Bread with no yeast; it may be pretty on the outside but it will never RISE to it’s full potential – that is so true Sommer.
I don’t easily get angry but when it does, it’s going to last for a while despite the smile I put on my face.
Your flat bread looks so good. love the fresh veggies and goat cheese. so delicious.
thanks for sharing.
So of course your flatbread looks and sounds amazing. You never let me down. I want a slice (or a whole slab) to myself! I love the analogies that you made too. As a former English teacher…I was very impressed! Thanks for sharing, sweet woman. I hope you have a great Wednesday. Happy Hump Day!
I like what you said about forgiveness being something that you do over and over again and each time it gets easier. That’s true, we think that once is all it takes but for deeper offenses it might take a number of tries before we are really able to let go of old hurts. I guess the key is to keep trying.
My husband and I love trying new pizza recipes!
I’m sure we would love this one!
This is exactly my kind of bread, Sommer! Love the tomatoes and the olive oil drizzle over the bread.
I had someone really hurt one of my loved ones, a very long time ago…and still to this day cannot let go, funny thing is my loved one has moved on with forgiving them, but I remain torn..great post sommer..love the flatbread..roasted veggies are one of my fav toppings, so much flavor..
sweetlife
have a great week
Oh my goodness, this looks absolutely spectacular!
Your flatbread is simply stunning! The toppings are perfect. I love that you said forgiveness is something you do over and over again – I have been trying to forgive something for five years now and those angry feeling just keep flaring up again.
Thanks so much for sharing this, Sommer. I too feel that it can be really difficult to forgive certain people. After a while though, it’s good to get closure and to let go, for your own sake. I’m glad you are taking the steps to forgive and be more at peace with the situation. And flat bread is not a bad way to get there, hehe.
Your’e so cute and awesome, Sommer. You really are. You know, I have someone in my life like that too. It’s hard to forget and even harder to forgive a serious offense, especially when that offense is towards someone we love. Your friend is right though. His saying reminds me of Sicily Tyson. In one of her movies, her character says that if you stay angry with someone, that they have control over you. I think that’s true too…
Anyway, your flat bread looks wonderful, Lady:-)
Wow that flat bread looks AMAZING and so colorful. I love the idea of using dill and zucchini, I would have never of thought of that. Your always have such stunning photos!
You had me at goat cheese!
this looks really yummy delicious presentation
Or … you could just say: If you eat veggie flatbread pizza you won’t care who has offended you because you will be lost in a world of yum.
This flatbread is gorgeous! I adore my veggies roasted. I love this post!
I love your analogies…very clever
And your flat bread looks just amazing!
I love your analogies…very clever
And your flat bread looks just amazing!
great flatbread and I hear you but forgiving is so freeing tell me about the Asheville food blog conference
I just recently heard that same poison quote on the TV. I forget exactly where – but it made a profound impact upon me, too – I think it was a guest on Oprah. Good for you. Letting go is so much more empowering that holding one. I love the fresh ingredients and this beautiful scrumptious flat bread. Your family is getting fed such incredibly delicious, nutritious and economical food today. I love that!
valerie
I am supportive of you letting go. That is the best way – perhaps eating the delicious looking flatbread is the same as eating your anger away so none is left! I hope you feel that burden off your shoulders soon! There is no point of dwelling on it – like you said, it would only hold you back. Good luck!
These would make lovely little hors d’oeuvres too! So pretty and fresh for spring~
this looks great, I’m definitely going to have to give this a shot!
As a woman in her fifties, I look hard and loong at the person I want to be versus the person I am. All evolves. And if you evolve in a gracious direction, you are doing well. Your analogies? Just plain fun and sweet. Your flatbread? Oh – it will get made.
My mouth instantly watered when I clicked the link here. Thanks.
This looks divine! I’m always looking for new ways to eat veggys and this looks perfect.
Monica
Spicediary.com
Hmm……how do I put this Sommer? You are an artist in the kitchen, behind the camera and with words! Everything is just beautiful and I especially love your veggie flat bread analogies
Looks so delicious!
OMG! Look how fresh that is! It’s my first time here–and I know what I’m going to be doing for the next hour.
I heard once, years ago, that staying mad or not forgiving someone only hurts you, not them. It’s a waste of my own time, not theirs. I appreciate your post, and your honesty. And I REALLY appreciate this flatbread!!!! Oh wow, this is a truly amazing recipe. Goat cheese IN the flatbread dough. I’m speechless.
Love all your analogies. Harboring resentment or negative feelings toward someone only hurts yourself in the long run…sounds so high and mighty doesn’t it…but it’s true.
This recipe is marvelous. I love goat cheese and red peppers and your photos make this flat bread look so appetizing…Thanks for sharing!
The author Elie Weisel once wrote, “Anger is a double ended sword. The damage we do, we do until ourselves.” So very true… yet forgiveness isn’t always easy. Sounds like you’ve taken the big first step though!
Oops unto ourselves!
The recipe sound absolutely delicious and was something I was looking for. Also, thanks for the reflection you wrote at the beginning of the recipe page. You were right, someone NEEDED to read this today!! Thanks!