Love My Philly

I say there’s nothing more romantic that having someone cook for you. In my world, breakfast in bed is one of the ultimate expressions of care and affection. It doesn’t have to be big, or grand, or complicated. Just throw together a simple meal with a few eggs, meat and bread, throw it on a tray with a garden picked flower and a steaming cup of coffee and you’ve won my heart.

Bacon and Egg Bagel Melt Think pizza bagel meets breakfast pizza. Sound wacky? The melty cheese is sure to win you over.

Vegetable Frittata Eggs and veggies all in one bit. This couldn’t be easier!

No Fail Omelet No reason to be intimidated by making an omelet with this simple recipe. You’ll be a pro in no time!

With my hectic schedule I’m occasionally confused about what time it is. Professionally this is a burden, but for eating it’s pretty wonderful – I can eat whatever, whenever. The morning is supposed to be for breakfast, but here are some outside-the-box recipes that you’ll enjoy in the early hours.

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Sandwich Cinnamon raisin bread makes this simple sandwich feel extra luxurious.

Light and Fluffy French Toast Casserole Think bread pudding. Perfectly sweet and cramy, with the perfect crunch for the pecans.

Dutch Boy Pancake with Fresh Fruit Fruit plus warm puffy pancake plus cream cheese and marshmallow frosting. Now that’s a champion dish!

You might be surprised how a simple family tradition can really shape your life. One of my favorite family traditions growing up was our Saturday night ritual. Those were the nights my dad would bust out the waffle maker and fry up the bacon… for dinner.

This week, try to reconceptualize your morning foods as evening foods, and see what you come up with. Here are a few recipes to get you started:

Double Strawberry Waffles- You could go for either frozen waffles or tackle making your own from scratch. Think of all the awesome variations you could take on this recipe. Substitute blueberries for strawberries and add a few blueberries into plain Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Pineapple would also be a fun addition to your Philly cream cheese.

Bacon and Egg Pie- Super simple and unbelievably delicious recipe. Throw some tomatoes on top for a bit of color. The crust is made out of canned buttermilk biscuits so it couldn’t be easier!

Oven Baked French Toast with Cranberry Maple Sauce- This breakfast is perfect served with crisp bacon on a chilly fall night.

I love to wake up and grab some tasty food. I can’t be alone in this tendency, so here are some recipes for real morning eaters:

Nutty Pear Toast- Feel free to indulge in any fruit you have on hand. Strawberries and bananas would be lovely. Apples and cinnamon would be a dream.

Cheese and Chive Egg Sandwich- This cooks up in ten short minutes and will keep you satisfied well into your lunch hour.

For mornings when your priority is catching up on your TiVo, here are some lazy weekend recipes.

Breakfast Egg Burrito- Serving a crowd for breakfast. These burritos are perfect for those hungry overnight guests and the recipe is flexible. Add bacon, scallions, extra veggies or jalapeno cheddar according to your taste!

Morning Maple Waffles- Whether you use fresh waffles or easy frozen waffles, this breakfast dish will definitely have you coming back for seconds.

Some recipes to help ensure your kids are doing their best:

Ole’ Roll-Up: Who ever thought tortilla and Philly? This wrap is served with eggs, bacon and salsa of your choice. Done in 5 minuets, just worm the flower tortilla, spread the Philly and throw in the bacon, eggs and salsa, then wrap it up to go.

Delightful Morning Wrap: This healthy exotic wrap will sure give your student the nutrition they need. Filled with bananas and Philadelphia Neufchatel Cheese you can be sure that your student will be satisfied until lunch. Prepare in 5 minuets, take your flower tortilla, spread the Neufchatel Cheese, your whole banana slice it, wrap it and head to class.

Looking for a quick midnight snack without the hustle and bustle of the preparation? Try one of these tasty treats to fulfill your next midnight refrigerator raid! It could not be any easier whether you’re half asleep, or restless from staying up with the kids.

PHILADELPHIA Dessert Dip – A quick and easy dip that can be used with anything from cookies to fruits.

Double Berry Cheesecake Bites – Delicious and suiting for that midnight splurge for something sweet.

Two-Minute Tiramisu – In the mood for a Tiramisu but all the stores are closed? Whip up this quick and tasty treat to help satisfy that sweet-tooth.

Try any one of these delectable treats the next time your in the mood for a quick midnight snack. Now be sure and get some sleep!

This is a tasty and super easy summer side dish, perfect with almost anything off the Barbeque. Make sure the tomatoes and basil are extra fresh for best taste.

Nutritional Information

Prep Time:
10 min

Total Time:
2 hr 10 min

Makes:
8 servings

2 lb. tomatoes, chopped (about 3 cups)
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 pkg. (9 oz. each) refrigerated linguine, cooked, drained
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

TOSS tomatoes with cream cheese, oil, basil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper; cover.

REFRIGERATE at least 2 hours.

PLACE pasta in large bowl. Add tomato mixture and pine nuts; toss lightly.

An awesome alternative to those fried foods that come before the main dish.

Nutritional Information

Prep Time:
10 min

Having friends over for game day can be exciting, but if you’re looking for more than your traditional chips and salsa, dips are a great way to spice things up in the middle of a game. Here are five great dips that are sure to please fans.

Buffalo Chicken Dip - This traditional dip serves great with celery sticks or wheat thins crackers.

Shrimp Cocktail Dip - This dip is quick and easy to make.  Sprinkle on some parmesan cheese and it’s sure to be a hit.

Philly Cheesy Pizza Dip - This dip is just as tasty as it sounds.  Just spread cream cheese on a plate, top with pizza sauce, add the rest of the ingredients on top, and serve with your favorite cut up vegetables or ritz crackers. 

Philly Tomato-Basil Dip - This dip will add some zest to your game day.  This dip is easy to make and you may substitute cream cheese for Neufchatel cheese.

Spiced Cranberry Dip - Cranberries are a great pairing with cream cheese.  Mix in orange marmalade, ground red pepper, and sprinkle almonds on top, and you have a great dip with some spice to it.

Oh no! You forgot all about your kids bake sale tomorrow and you have no time to waste! Here are some quick, tasty recipe ideas using Philly. Try making one of these and the other parents will think you spent all day in the kitchen.

Apple Crumble – This is a great little dish that will have the kids lining up to buy seconds. Simply spread the mixture on top of a small dish of peeled apples and enjoy.

RITZ Ladybug – These are as tasty to look at as they are to eat. Simply use jelly for the dots, black licorice for the antennae and cream cheese to hold it all together. The creativity with this recipe is endless.

Mini OREO Surprise Cupcakes – This is a new take on a standard bake sale classic. Bake it like a regular cupcake but make sure to add the mixture into the center along with a mini OREO cookie. Offer these and enjoy the reaction as they bite into the center.