1.      Always use the best cream cheese available, and of coarse that means using original Philadelphia cream cheese!

     2.      Make sure you allow your ingredients time to set or come up to room temperature. Usually this takes no longer than 30 min., but if you want to speed up the process place your cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave on high for about 15 seconds. By allowing the ingredients to sit, you will come up with a smoother consistency, and require less mixing.

3.      Try placing a shallow pan of water on the rack below your cheesecake in the oven. It will keep the oven moist, and your cheesecake is less likely to dry out.

4.      Use a spring form pan so the sides can be removed easily, and your cheesecake stays in tact. It’s always a good idea to butter the sides of your pan, or to take a metal spatula around the edges right when you take it out of the oven.

5.      Avoid all temptations to open the oven and take a peek, while the cake is baking. Any drafts may not allow your cheesecake to rise as much as it could. We want it to be nice and d fluffy, right?

6.      Once the cake is baked allow it the time to cool slowly. Let it sit for about an hour on a wire rack- away from any drafts, and garnish only 1 to 3 hours before serving.

Have fun, and enjoy! And Remember when in a hurry; try Philadelphia’s ready-to-eat cheesecake filling in original or chocolate.

It’s true that the taste of Philadelphia cream cheese is enough to make the clouds part and the heavens sing, but there is more to the silky smooth spread than meets the eye or taste buds. When we think of cream cheese we think of cheesecake, dips, or appetizers, but have you ever thought of Philly to fix that leaky sink or smooth out that frizzy hair of yours? Philadelphia Cream Cheese isn’t just a delicious cheese spread; it’s a multi-purpose handy dandy tool, for any use.

            Start saving hundreds of dollars by using Philly for all your home improvement needs. Fix the cracks in your driveway, or use it to re-grout the tile in your bathroom. Take it outdoors, give the car a bath and finish it with a nice wax job a la Philadelphia, or finish building that brick pathway with bricks of Philly!

            You can incorporate Philadelphia into your daily beauty regimen as well. Replace your deep cream conditioner in the shower with Philly strawberry flavor cream cheese; it will leave your hair silky smooth and smelling like fresh berries, careful not to get a mouth full of hair, you may be tempted to eat it! Use Philly after the shower to style your hair just right. Every hair will stick in place, guaranteed! Don’t stop at your hair though; try it the next time you are ready to give yourself a facial or as a back up when you run out of lotion. It really is a little beauty secret all on its own.

            Get your creative juices flowing too, and mold a brick of your favorite Philly cream cheese into a work of art, you invent a whole new medium of art. Or try melting a bowl of it, and finger paint with the kids, you’ll be able to eat and paint at the same time, snack time and craft time all in one!

*Purely meant all in good fun!*

Mother’s day is only a few weeks away, and if you still have no clue about what to do for mom on her special day, have no fear. Here are a few recipes and ideas using Philadelphia cream cheese that are sure to have mom grinning from ear to ear.

            I always made my mom breakfast for her special day. You don’t want her to have to lift a finger on her day, so start the day off right by serving her breakfast in bed. Make a pot of her favorite coffee or tea and serve her something amazing, like Stuffed French toast. It’s a thick slice of cinnamon-raisin bread stuffed with creamy Philadelphia cream cheese and thin sliced honey ham. Prepare it like you would regular French toast and drizzle maple syrup over. Or if pancakes are more moms’ style try the Dutch Boy Pancake. In total it takes about 40 min. to prep and bake, but it’s totally worth it.

            Maybe you did breakfast in bed for mom last year, and want to try something new. Why not set-up a fancy lunch for her and a few friends? You could do it in or outdoors, just make sure you create a beautiful setting with fresh flowers, some fancy drinks, and some delicious food. You could make it more of low –key lunch by serving a few appetizers such as; Tea Sandwiches, Mini Shrimp Cocktails, and a delicious Apricot-Almond spread, with crackers and sliced bread. Or you could go all out and make a main dish, like Tortellini with Salmon and Dill. The flavor combinations are perfect and the creamy Philly sauce makes it heavenly. Serve it with a mixed green salad and balsamic vinegar dressing.

            Either way make sure you serve up a great dessert. Here are a few suggestions for the ladies who lunch. Try the Creamy Lemon Squares or Pineapple Cream Puffs squares for a refreshing and light way to end the meal. Or you could try the Strawberry Margarita Dessert, which is a little more rich, and creamy. Garnish it with fresh strawberries. What woman wouldn’t love a margarita for dessert! Any of these would make a great party favor as well, just put a piece in a decorative take out container and send home with guests.

            Any of the recipes will make this mother’s day memorable, and have mom feeling very loved and appreciated. Make sure you handle the clean-up too! Happy Mother’s Day!

            To understand how Philadelphia came to be, we have to take a quick look at how it was even made. In 1872 an American dairy man from New York named William Lawrence accidentally concocted the cream cheese spread when trying to make a French cheese known as Neufchatel (which Philadelphia still produces today). He loved the cream cheese so much that in 1880 he began to distribute it in foil wrappers. He gave it the name Philadelphia, because at the time the city was known as the home of top quality food. So to call it Philadelphia would make it sound like something of class and high quality, which of coarse it was!

            Lawrence eventually sold the Philadelphia trademark to the Phoenix Cheese Co. of New York in 1903. Kraft later merged with the Phoenix Cheese Company in 1928, and kept the name, which was now synonymous with the cheese.  Over 100 years later Philadelphia is still alive and well and now comes in a variety of flavors and packages for us to enjoy. It’s the most famous cream cheese there ever was, and ever will be!

Summer is just around the corner, and that means more time spent outdoors. Pack some of these snacks along for your next trip to the park, lake, or baseball field. They’re easy to make, travel well, and are great on the go. Make them for the next family road trip or send them along with the kids to day camp.

Apple, Pecan, and Blue Cheese Spread

Adults and Kids a like will love the unique flavor and texture of this hearty dip. The tang of the blue cheese and the sweetness of the apples is a great flavor combination. It works well on thick flaky cracker, but also makes a great sandwich filling. Try it inside a piece of pita bread, or wrapped up in a tortilla!

Berry Creamy Sandwich Cookies

These are a fun and sweet treat to pack for you next picnic in the park. Take your favorite vanilla or lemon sandwich cookie top with a little Philadelphia strawberry cream cheese and fresh seasonal berries. Pack them in a shallow Tupperware container so they don’t slide around to much.

A Morning Wrap
Sure it has morning in the name, but I don’t see why you couldn’t make this anytime of the day. It takes literally two to three minutes to put together, and it tastes great. Take a regular tortilla, spread your favorite Philadelphia cream cheese spread on and top with sliced bananas, or strawberries.

Ants on a Log
A classic never dies, and thus is the case with ants on a log. It’s simple and kids will love it not just for its funny name, but for its sweet and refreshing flavor. Play up on the original by trying different flavors and toppings. Try the Philadelphia Pineapple flavor cream cheese and top with pieces of dried pineapple or mango

Bacon, Cheese and Tomato Crescents
Try multiple fillings of these tiny crescents for a suitable snack morning, noon, or night. The bacon, cheese, and tomato filling is savory and delicious, but you could also try it with ham and some shredded cheese instead. Prep them the night before, and then bake in the morning for a quick snack later in the day. Tell the kids it’s a home made hot pocket or better yet let them customize their own. They will be begging for them everyday!