CW's Cafe Today - Cooking From the Pantry - Cheesecake Batter

• 3 1/2 pounds of soften cream cheese ( about 7 8oz packages)
• 2 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 5 Large eggs 

All ingredients should be room temperature.

Cooking From the Pantry - Ham Chowder Delight

Ham Chowder Delight - quick and easy main course or a start to any great meal.

Servings - 6

Prep Time - 5 minutes

Cooking Time - 10 - 15 minutes

Just 5 Ingredients

• 8 ounces cooked ham, diced in cubes
• 2 cups half and half fat free cream or low fat milk 
• 4 ounces cream cheese 1/3 less fat (soften)
• 2 cups diced cooked potatoes ( Simply Potatoes)
  
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained

Quick and Easy Steps

Step 1

 In 3 - 5 quart soup pot, add fat free half and half  and bring to a simmer.  Then add cream cheese stir until blended, add potatoes and mixed vegetables.   Let simmer for about 3 - 5 minutes then add diced ham chunks.  Season to taste with salt and pepper or MRS Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning and continue to let simmer for about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Serve in soup bowls, garnish with chopped chives and garlic flavored croutons.
Serving size is about 1 cup.

 

  

 

Appetizers from the Pantry - Bacon Mushroom Tarts

Anything goes with Bacon, Mushrooms and Cream Cheese, cut in triangle shapes and easy to serve as a tasty appetizer. Enjoy!

Prep time: 15 minutes - cooking time 35 minutes  Serving Size - 10

 

Ingredients

·       1 egg yolk, beaten

·       4 eggs

·       8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)

·       2 tablespoons of Olive Oil

·       3/4 of Mushrooms - Shiitake or Portabella chopped fine

·       4 slices Smoke Bacon (thick) dice

·       4 Spring Onions (chopped fine)

·       1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped

·       2 sheets of ready-rolled pie crust

 

 

Step 1

Preheat the oven 400 degrees and spray Pam on 9 x 13 baking pan. 

Open pie crust and lay first sheet in pan press dough to the edges and 

brush with egg yolk.

Step 2

Then place the second sheet of pie crust on top and gently press together 

to form a nice crust.  Trim the edges to fit pan. With a folk prick the 

pastry dough evenly and bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. 

Step 3

While pastry is baking, in a medium sauce pan add olive oil and mushrooms 

and sauté for about 5 minutes.  Then remove and add diced smoke bacon 

and cook until is starts to get a little crispy.  Add spring onions and 

chopped parsley. Salt and pepper to taste, then remove and let cool.

 Step 4

In mixing bowl combine cream cheese and 4 eggs, mix until smooth. 

Then add mushroom mixture and blend well.  Remove pastry from oven 

and lower oven temperature 350. Pour mixture onto the pastry base and 

return to oven.

Step 5

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until light brown.  Let set and trim the 

outside edges, then cut into four equal squares, then cut squares into triangles.

 

Breakfast from the Pantry - Cream Chipped Ham

Philly Style Cream Chipped Ham 

It's a blast from the past with a smokey twist!  A new creation, of an old classic dish (Cream Chipped Beef), replaced with thin slice Smoked Ham. Growing up in the “White House” Cream Chipped Beef was a family favorite and my Mom made this recipe using “Dried Beef”, cream, butter and flour.  My Philly Style Cream Chipped Ham is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 

 

 

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 1 cup Chicken Broth Less Fat (low sodium)
• 1/2 Fat Free Milk
• 2 Garlic gloves minced
• 2 tbsp Cornstarch or flour
• 8 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese (Whipped)
• 1tbsp finely chopped fresh Basil
• 4 ounces thin slice Smoke Ham

 Steps

 

1. In a medium sauce pan, add butter, chicken broth, and milk. Let simmer for about 3 minutes, then add garlic.  In a small bowl combine cornstarch and about 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry paste, then add this to mixture. Blend and stir constantly.  Now add cream cheese to mixture and whisk until the sauce is thick and smooth let simmer for about 2 - 3 minutes.

2. Season sauce with pepper to taste, but (NO SALT), the Smoke Ham will provide the salt taste.  Cut Smoked Ham into 1/2" slices and add to cream sauce, blend well and add fresh chopped basil.

3. Serve Philly Style Cream Chipped Ham over toast, bagels, biscuits or croissants. Garnish with chopped chives or basil. Enjoy!!

Holiday Treats and Sweets

Festive Cookies, Cakes, Pies and more. 

Stocking your Pantry for Holiday baking

• Flour
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Walnuts and Pecans
• Cooking and Baking Sprays
• Cream Cheese
• Semi Sweet Chocolate
• Unsalted Butter
• Eggs, Milk, Heavy Cream, Sweet and Condensed Milk
• Brown Sugar and other spices

These are some of the items required for you holiday baking project.

Gingerbread Cheesecake Bars

What you need !

Ingredients

• 8 ounce package of Cream Cheese (soften)
• 2/3 cups sugar, or Splenda for baking  (divided)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger, (divided)
• 1/2 cup ( 1 stick) unsalted butter, (soften)
• 3/4 molasses
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp allspice

 Let's make these bars

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ and prep 13" x 9" baking pan.
2. Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. Add 1 egg, vanilla and 1/2 tsp ginger; blend until smooth.  Place in refrigerator until ready to use.
4. Beat butter and remaining sugar in large bowl at medium speed until smooth and fluffy.  Add molasses and remaining eggs; beat until well blended.  Combine flour, baking soda, remaining ginger, cinnamon, salt, and allspice in medium bowl.  Then add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat just until blended.  Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. 
5. Remove cream cheese mixture from refrigerator and drop mixture by spoonfuls into gingerbread batter; swirl into batter with knife.
6. Bake 25 - 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Cool on rack.  Makes 2 dozen bars.

Creamy Lemon Nut Bars

What you need !

Ingredients - Prep Time: 15 min     Cook Time: 30 min

·       1 stick unsalted butter (soften)

·       1/3 cup powder sugar

·       2 tsp vanilla

·       1 3/4 cups of flour (divided)

·       1/3 cup chopped Pecans

·       8 ounce package Cream Cheese (soften)

·       2 cups sugar or Splenda for baking

·       3 eggs

·       1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

·       1 tbsp lemon zest

   

Are you ready for some Lemon Bars ?

1. Preheat oven to 350˚.  You will need 13" x 9" baking pan lined with aluminum foil; spray with cooking spray.
2. Mix butter,  1/3 cup powdered sugar and vanilla in large bowl.  Gradually stir in 1 1/2 cups of the flour and pecans.  Press dough firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
3. Blend cream cheese and granulated sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until blended.  Then add remaining 1/4 cup flour and eggs; beat until blended.
4. Add lemon juice and zest.  Pour over baked crust in pan.  Bake 30 minutes or until set.  Remove from oven; cool completely.  Then sprinkle powdered sugar, garnish with more lemon zest and cut into 32 bars. 

Spiced Pecans

 Ingredients

• 1/4  cup  margarine
• 4  cups  pecans
• 1 1/2  cups  sugar
• 1  tablespoon  cinnamon
• 1  tablespoon  ground cloves
• 1  tablespoon  nutmeg

Preparation

Melt margarine and add pecans. Cook and stir 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Mix remaining ingredients in plastic container. Add warm pecans and shake to coat. Spread on a baking sheet to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

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Pina Colada Delight

Week # 4 - RWOP Make to Impress Desserts

Recap Week 3 - RWOP Breakfast Entree

Ham and Bell Pepper Quiche

Nothing breaks the morning fast than a savory dish composed of eggs, cream, fresh veggies and chopped ham in a wonderful flaky crust. I love making quiche and having the opportunity to include Philadelphia Cream Cheese in this quiche recipe made me think. Can I really pull this off and make the flavors work? What would the texture be like and how would it taste? Well let me tell you, this quiche is delicious, the texture is creamy yet firm enough to handle all my ingredients. Enjoy !!

Philly Style Cream Chipped Ham 

It's a blast from the past with a smokey twist! A new creation, of an old classic dish "Cream Chipped Beef", replaced with thin slices of Smoked Ham. Growing up in the "White House" Cream Chipped Beef was a family favorite and my Mom made this recipe using Dried Beef, Cream, Butter and Flour. My Philly Style Cream Chipped Ham is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Enjoy!

Grits and Eggs with a Creamy Twist

Grits, eggs, with bacon or sausage was a Sunday morning favorite when growing up. Grits, known for its mark on Southern Cuisine is not just for breakfast anymore, they can be served for lunch and dinner with shrimp or lobster. So the next time you want to impress your Sunday Brunch guest, try my recipe for Grits and Eggs. Just the right portion, full of creamy Philadelphia Cream Cheese and topped with egg, crispy bacon and a little cheese, onion flavor from chopped chives. Enjoy!


 

Recap of Appetizer Week - with RWOP

I have submitted two recipes  for Week One Perfect Party Theme.

Shrimp & Lobster Crouton Cups

From the Garden Fondue