Love My Philly

 
 
 
 
Before finding this recipe, I didn’t know tomatoes could be turned into such sweet delicacies. This recipe for Candied Tomatoes will walk you through the easy steps. If you absolutely love vanilla, intensify the flavor by substituting 1 vanilla bean (halved lengthwise), for the vanilla extract. Then, add the vanilla bean to the cheesecloth bundle.

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 3 hr 30 min
Makes: 12 servings
Nutritional Information

Ingredients

4 cinnamon sticks (3 inches each)
8 whole cloves
8 allspice berries
8 strips orange zest (2×1/4 inch each)
2 cups water
4 cups sugar
1 cup raisins
2 lb. plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese

Instructions

PLACE cinnamon, cloves, allspice and orange zest on large piece of cheesecloth; tie into bundle.

BRING water to boil in large saucepan on high heat. Add cheesecloth bundle, sugar and raisins. Reduce heat to medium. Add tomatoes; simmer 10 min. Remove cheesecloth bundle; discard. Stir vanilla into tomato mixture. Remove from heat; cool 5 min. Spoon into large serving dish or eight individual serving dishes; cover.

REFRIGERATE several hours or until chilled. Just before serving, cut cream cheese crosswise into 12 slices; cut each slice into 3 strips. Top each serving with 3 of the cream cheese strips.