Love My Philly

Take a trip to Italy tonight, without leaving the comfort of your home. Mix up this great Italian meal for your family and friends, then celebrate all the delicious wonderful foods Italy has to offer. Everyone will have fun!

Appetizer

Pesto Crostini

Side Dish

Zucchini with Parmesan Sauce

Main Course

Bow Ties Florentine

Dessert

Cappuccino Cream Cheese Brownies

Right now I am dieting, so of course I’m craving all the things that I shouldn’t be eating. Thankfully, one of those things is not Philly. But I do have chocolate on the brain, it’s all I can think about morning, noon, and night. So I had to come up with a recipe that stayed inside the parameters of my dietary guidelines. I managed to come up with this treat. Try it out and satisfy your sweet tooth, without any of the guilt.

Brownie Bottom Mini-Cheesecakes

Brownie
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup flour
1 stick margarine
1-1/2 cups Splenda
1/4 cup non fat milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt

Cheesecake
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Neufchatel 1/3 Less Fat
1/2 cup Knudsen Sour Cream
1/4 cups Splenda
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

24 cupcake paper liners

PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH for 2 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add 1-1/2 cups of the Splenda; mix well.

ADD 2 eggs, one at a time; mixing on low speed after each adding each one. Add milk and 1 tsp. of vanilla; mix well. Combine flour and salt and gradually add to chocolate mixture; mix after each addition until blended. Pour evenly into cupcake liners. Bake for 25 min.

BEAT cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, mix on low speed after each one. Pour over brownie layer in liners.

BAKE 55 min. to 60 min. or until center is almost set. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 min. before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge.

There is nothing better than the wonderful taste of a rich, chocolate truffle. The way it melts in your mouth, along with the smooth intense flavors, make your feel as though you’re really indulging. I’ve put together a few of my favorite recipes for truffles that look incredible but are actually very easy to make yourself.

*Tip: The longer they sit in the refrigerator, the better they taste. Great to make ahead for parties and events*

Simply Sensational Truffles

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Easy OREO Truffles

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Chocolate Cream Truffles

I don’t think I know a single person who doesn’t like Asian food. It’s filling and still manages to be light. How they do it, I’ll never know, but rich curries and seafood dishes from the far East are always a delight. Try whipping up a few of this dishes with Philly, and take your family to the other side of the world.

Creamy Curried Pumpkin Soup
Curry, anyone? This wonderful soup takes basic ingredients and blends them together for a dish that’s anything but. Save this creamy spiced pumpkin soup for a cool fall day.

Asian Spread
Water chestnuts and ground ginger give this spread a flavorful twist. Spread it on your morning bagel and wait for the sensation of tastes to take your bagel from mundane to wow.

Curried Chicken Spread
This dip is perfect for any party, with it’s unlikely pairing of ingredients, but one bite is all it will take for your guest to be singing your praises.

Ginger-Pear Cheesecake Cups
You haven’t had a pear until you’ve tasted a real Asian pear. Combine it sweat granulated flavor to the strong kick of ginger and add that to cheesecake. If you’re not drooling yet, you will be.

Crispy Won Tons with Dipping Sauce
Try this staple in Asian cuisine, made with rice wine, ginger root, and sesame seeds. They cook up perfect every time and are perfect for as an Asian themed dinner appetizer.

Try this yummy dish when you don’t have a lot of time but still want a great family dinner. The kids will enjoy it too, yes, even with the peas. shh!

We all know that cheesecake tastes great when topped with cherries or strawberries, especially when that cheesecake is made with Philly. But there are more than a few fruit variations to incorporate into your Philadelphia Cream Cheese infused cheesecakes, and we’re going to count ‘em down. Give your normal fruit flavors a rest and get a load of these top 5 fruit cheesecakes.

Amaretto Berry Cheesecake
Before you start pulling those strawberries off your cheesecake, try this idea instead. Add a few blueberries and raspberries on top and swirl in a splash of Amaretto. Presto change-o, you’ve just updated a classic.

Luscious Lemon Cheesecake
Add the crisp taste of lemon to your cheesecake; top with lemon zest and wake up your tastebuds with a refreshing zing.

Triple Citrus Cheesecake
This one is the ultimate triple threat of fruit cheesecakes. Blend lemon, lime, and orange flavors for the perfect medley to capture the taste of summer. Dress this cheesecake with zest from all three of it’s flavors and wait to be cut up in a current of citrusy goodness.

Low-Fat Tropical Dream Cheesecake
Aptly titled, tropical dreams is exactly what each bite of this cheesecake conjures up. Adorned with kiwi and pineapple, close your eyes and let this dessert take you away to warm beaches and summer breezes.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake
You can’t lose when you take the flavor of America’s favorite pie and mix it with America’s favorite cream cheese. To add even more flavor to this cheesecake creation, place a few apple slices atop this delightful dessert.