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If you haven’t guessed by now, I have wicked sweet tooth and I love to indulge it with either chocolate or fruit flavors. One of my favorite breakfast eateries serves a blueberry lemon loaf that is to die for. When trying to come up with this week’s recipe all I could think about is how good that blueberry lemon loaf is and how much I want one. LOL. And then it occurred to me, if it tastes that good in “bread” form it would probably taste unbelievable if you add some Philly and turn it into a tart. That’s how I came up with this.

Blueberry-Lemon Cream Cheese Tartlets

2 (8-ounce) packages Philadelphia cream cheese, softened 

1 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 eggs

12 vanilla wafers

1 (21-ounce) can blueberry filling

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup of a muffin pan.

BEAT cream cheese with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and lemon juice, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

PLACE a vanilla wafer, flat side down, in each muffin cup. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers.

BAKE for 20 minutes. Allow tarts to cool completely. Serve with blueberry filling on top.

 

Spiced Cranberry Dip
This fruit is easy to get your hands on, so why not throw it in a dip? Who says you have to wait till Thanksgiving to enjoy this bitter-sweet berry?

Philly Buffalo Chicken Dip
The NBA finals are in full swing. Be prepared when the sea of men fill your house to watch the games with your son or husband. Whip this up to keep the guys happy.

Philadelphia Hot Pepper Spread
Grab a brick of Philly and some Hot Pepper Jam and you’ve got a quick easy to make appetizer.

Mexican Dip
While this recipe already holds some heat, take it from mild to caliente by tossing in some jalapeño peppers.

With wedding season upon us, it’s time to shell out the dough for that perfect gift for the happy couple. You could do the norm and pick something from the registry like a toaster or a set of coasters, or you could go against the grain and give them something you know they really want, CREAM CHEESE. Nothing says love like Philadelphia cream cheese, and just imagine the happy couple frolicking on the beach during their honeymoon, feeding each other from the same tub of Philly. I know, it brings tears to my eyes too.

 

Here are some creative ideas to pull off the perfect wedding gift for the bride and groom. Nothing is more universal, versatile, or beautiful than a piece of art, because it comes from the heart. Why not sculpt the bride and grooms likeness out of Philadelphia cream cheese; you could do the groom in original flavor and the bride in mixed berry. Not only will they love looking at it they can snack on it during the reception or in the getaway car.

 

The next idea is inspired by one of my favorite movies of the last year, Juno. I loved the scene where she stuffed all those orange tic tacs into her boyfriend’s mailbox. Take a note from the movie and fill your favorite couple’s mailbox with Philly! It may not make the mail man too happy, but the bride and groom will be so surprised.

 

Take Philly to the bridal shower too. Forget the edible chocolate body paint. Give tubs of Philly (in various flavors) and throw in a few paint brushes into a decorative basket and wrap with a big bow. The couple is sure to have fun with this on their wedding night. Throw some bagels in there too, in case they work up an appetite.

 

Use your imagination and a little Philly and you are sure to come up with an amazing gift.

We all love Philly here, but sometimes you need to give your waistline a break. Well that was then this is now. Thanks to Philadelphia Neufchatel Cream Cheese, which is 1/3 less fat than the Original Philadelphia Cream Cheese, you can keep filling up on Philly. Try these great recipes featuring everyone’s favorite brand, minus 1/3 the fat.

Blueberry-Cheese Rolls
This is an easy one to make, with only 10 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes to bake. Try substituting the blueberries for strawberries or whatever your favorite fruit may be.

Philadelphia Almond Amaretto Dessert
Mmm…you can have dessert and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

Philadelphia New York Style Carb Counter Cheesecake
A classic dessert that never goes out of style, treat yourself to a slice.

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

Try this recipe for a hearty comfort food classic. It’s everyone’s favorite dish, with a twist.

Chocolate Two-Cheese Pie
Chocolate and cream cheese meld together perfectly in this decadent dessert, which only holds 9 grams of fat.

Farmhouse Chicken Dinner
Get a well rounded meal with this dish. You can feed your family and/or guests a serving of this and not worry about fattening them up.

Being raised in Texas has saddled me with a love for Tex-Mex cuisine. For those of you who aren’t quite sure what that means,Tex-Mex is the fusion of American food products with Mexican dishes.That’s how I came up with this beauty. It combines my Mexican food and Philadelphia Cream Cheese.Give this recipe a whirl this week and your whole family will be saying “Ole!”

CREAMY CHICKEN & CHILE ENCHILADAS 

1 pound uncooked chicken breast strips

1 package (8 ounces) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, cut into strips

1 can (4.5 ounces) chopped green chilies

1 package (12 count) flour tortillas for soft tacos & fajitas

2 cans (10 ounces each) green chile enchilada sauce

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
 

PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees.

COOK chicken in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink in center. While cooking, lightly grease 13x9x2-inch rectangular baking dish.

ADD cream cheese and chiles; reduce heat to medium. Stir until blended and cream cheese is melted.

SPOON chicken filling onto tortillas; roll up and place seam side down in baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over top and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

BAKE 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

No dish is complete without a nice sauce to top it off. It adds that little bit of pizzazz to your plate. And since we all know that Philly makes everything better, it only makes sense to polish of your palate with a Philly laden sauce.

Saucy Honey Mustard
This sauce is great to top your chicken breasts with. It’s creamy and offers a hint of tangy under its sweet flavor.

Zesty Bolognese
Zesty is exactly what this low fat sauce is, made with Philadelphia 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese. It will bring you plain old spaghetti bake to life.

Alfredo
Who doesn’t love fettuccini? Use this creamy recipe with only 300 calories and 6 grams of fat.

Leek Cream
Use this sauce to complete your fish dishes. It’s perfect when paired with salmon fillets.

Calvados Sauce
Drizzle this generously over pork tenderloin. It would also make a savory coupling with
Roast beef.

Summertime is a time to celebrate everything grilled! Break out the BBQ and take a few notes from Philadelphia cream cheese to take the old and switch it up with the new! Philadelphia cream cheese is first and foremost a great spread. So use it and it’s variety of flavors on your hamburgers and grilled chicken sandwiches. Take a turkey or a garden burger and spread a little chive and onion Philadelphia flavored cream cheese, top with red onion, cucumber, and crumbled feta cheese. Serve between two pieces of grilled pita bread for a Greek inspired burger.

 

Or make a juicy beef burger and top with jalapeno Philly, some grilled red pepper, and a little hot sauce for a spicy sensation. Or for a Mediterranean feast try Grilled Mediterranean Quesadillas, which is a creamy and tangy mixture of feta, parmesan, and original Philadelphia cream cheese, mixed with black olives. Spread between two flour tortillas and grill for a couple of minutes on each side! Grill up some desserts while your at it, and try the Grilled Pineapple Tart from Philly. A flaky buttery crust is layered with a sweet and fluffy cream cheese and cool whip filling, and topped with grilled pineapple. Or make grilled fruit kabobs, using pineapple, bananas, pears, and mango, and serve it with the famous Philadelphia Fruit Dip.  Make this summer memorable with great new and tasty ways to use Philly the next time you grill!

What makes a good cook great? Evolution. Growing, changing, and constantly adding recipes to their culinary repertoire. Here are 5 recipe books that should be in every cooks collection.

Desserts by Nancy Silverton
When one of the best pastry chefs in the country tell you how to bake anything, you listen. Nancy Silverton's book is not for the faint. If you are looking for a 1,2,3 guide to making brownies, this book is not for you.

The Taste of Country Cooking: 30th Anniversary Edition by Edna Lewis
This book epitomizes southern cooking at its best, filled with the kind of cooking you can only find in the country: jams and jellies, deep dish fruit filled pies, seasonal dishes, and comfort foods that warm your heart. It is a book filled with recipes you'll want to treat your loved ones to.

Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan
Who doesn't love pasta? This is the quintessential book for Italian cooking. With 20 sauces alone, you will find everything you ever need to know to perfect your Italian cuisine.

The Joy of Cooking by Rombauer and Becker
The bible of cooking. No cook can live without this one.

The Dean & Deluca Cookbook by David Rosengarten
This book is an eclectic compilation of recipes that don't disappoint. You'll find a little bit of everything here.


 

Cream Cheese fans rejoice! There is a whole day that is devoted to everything and anything relating to cream cheese. Nestled in the Adirondack foothills in Northern New York, the small town of Lowville has been celebrating the wonderful that is cream cheese for four years now.

            The festival held, once a year is held in downtown Lowville. The town of 3,500 gathers for the festivities which include everything from a Cream Cheese Toss, cream cheese bingo, cream cheese recipe contest, to a bagel and cream cheese eating contest, and a ‘feed your friends face (with cheesecake of coarse) contest. Other non-cream cheese events include a scarecrow contest, a pet fashion contest, a parade and a stage with live music all day long. The biggest attraction the festival has to offer is the arrival of the world’s largest cheesecake, made with Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, which sponsors the festival. Hungry cheesecake enthusiasts will line up as soon as the festival starts and will wait up to two hours in line for there slice of the heavenly and gigantic cake. That is dedication if I’ve ever heard it.

            If you want to check out the festival for yourself your in luck, it’s Saturday September 20, 2008 from 11:00 am to 6:00pm in Downtown Lowville, NY. If traveling from out of town make a whole trip out of it and experience the beauty of the region with its 3,000 lakes and ponds, and 2,000 miles of hiking trails. It’s not only a cream cheese gem of a town it’s a haven for outdoor recreation

            So move over garlic festival in Gilroy, CA; and watch out maple syrup festival of St. Albans, VT, there’s a new festival in town and its creamy goodness isn’t going anywhere. The Lowville cream cheese festival is taking the world by storm one bagel at a time.

With the cost of food rising families every where are worried about being able to provide delicious and healthy meals that don’t cost an arm and a leg to produce. The state of the economy may be a little compromising right now, but that doesn’t mean that your meals have to be. Here are a few simple tips and recipes to try that will keep your wallet and your stomach happy.

Tips:

• Plan out meals ahead of time. So you don’t overspend at the grocery store, plan your meals out for the week and then make a list of everything that you have and everything you need. Take the “need” to the store once a week to stock up.
• Stock up the pantry, and take advantage of any sales on dry or canned goods so that your pantry stays full. Keep lots of dry whole wheat pastas and brown rice on hand at all times, both are healthy options and can be made into a variety of dishes.
• Frozen veggies are a great alternative to fresh produce; it lasts longer and more often than not can be less expensive. Take advantage of meat when on sale to, you can freeze what you don’t use for future meals.
• Keep in mind what is in season for fresh produce- It will be less expensive. For example strawberries, blackberries, and cherries are always less expensive in the summer months.
• Avoid convenience foods like fast food or frozen dinners, they are heavy in salt, and usually fat content.
• Incorporate leftovers into the next meal.