Showing posts with label cream cheese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cream cheese. Show all posts

11.21.2011

Spiced Pumpkin Cream Cheese


This spiced pumpkin cream cheese takes all of ten minutes to make and is the perfect topping for your morning bagel or toast. Every bite tastes like you are eating pumpkin pie. Ezra Pound Cake also suggested serving it as a dip with crackers or pretzels, saying that it really shines when paired with some salt.

Source: Ezra Pound Cake

You Will Need:
  • 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened (Microwave for 15 seconds.)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, homemade or canned
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Here We Go:
  • In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, pumpkin and sugar until smooth with wooden spoon or electric mixer
  • Add the pumpkin pie spice and vanilla
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour

Makes 1 1/2 cups
Happy Feasting!

    4.19.2011

    Spinach and Artichoke Dip


    Leave it to a significant other (men more than likely) to casually forget to tell you something. Something that might be as important as "Oh yeah, so we have this party to go to tonight and I said that we would bring an appetizer".

     
    Key word = we

     
    Well, most women know that we actually means you. Now, I know that there are some lucky ladies out there who have significant others who are wonderful cooks (you are very lucky)! I, on the other hand, was left to fend for myself. I wanted to make something that was relatively quick and was sure to be a crowd pleaser. I had remembered seeing a Spinach and Artichoke recipe on one of my favorite blogs, In Good Taste , and it seemed like a pretty solid appetizer with rave reviews. This dip definitely did not disappoint. I served it alongside Fritos Scoops and Pita Chips which seemed to be a success since there was nothing left to bring home!

    You Will Need:
    • 8 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
    • 8 oz fat-free cream cheese, softened
    • 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
    • 1/2 cup far-free or reduced-fat sour cream
    • 1 15-oz can artichoke hearts, rinsed and roughly quartered
    • 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained of excess moisture
    • 1/2 cup parmigiana reggiano cheese
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Here We Go:
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
    • Combine first six ingredients by hand using a wooden spoon or spatula
    • Add 1/4 cup of parmigiana cheese and spread dip into a baking dish (I used 8x8)
    • Top with the rest of the parmigiana
    • Bake 40-45 minutes or until cheese on top is brown and bubbly
    • Serve with crackers, french bread, Fritos Scoops or Pita Chips

    Happy Feasting!