Spinach & Artichoke Dip (Hot or Cold)

*Photo note: I made this for Easter for just my husband & me, so I only filled the bowl with half of the dip created by this recipe.  The full recipe will fill the bread bowl appropriately.

Adapted from allrecipes.com

• 
  
• 1 8oz package cream cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch-style dip mix
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 2 (16 ounce) loaves King's Hawaiian® Sweet Bread
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 
  
• Blend mayo, sour cream and dip; mix together in a large bowl. Add artichoke hearts, spinach and water chestnuts; mix well. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.
• 
  
• Before serving, Carefully hollow 1 loaf, leaving 1-inch on sides and bottoms. Cube removed bread and additional loaf.

To serve hot: Stir in 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; microwave on high 4-5 minutes or until hot, stirring occasionally.

Transfer dip to bread bowl and serve with bread cubes.

Cinnamon Rolls

Adapted from allrecipes.com

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1 packet or 8 grams yeast
2 eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup margarine, melted

4 1/2 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese,softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Place warm milk & yeast in the bowl of stand mixer and allow to sit for about 10 minutes.  Add eggs, margarine, flour, salt & white sugar.  Attach the dough hook and allow to mix & need for about 10 minutes (or until the dough is stretchy and not too sticky).  Remove bowl and cover, allowing the dough to rise in a warm dry place for about an hour.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. 
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).  Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Once complete, place a cookie sheet on top of your pan and turn the rolls out upside down and allow them to cool for a few minutes.  While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving. 

To make the night before, complete recipe through step 3, then cover and refrigerate.  In the morning, allow rolls to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then complete step 4.

To freeze, complete through step 3, cover & freeze.  The day before you want to cook them, move them from the freezer to the fridge.  When ready to cook, allow rolls to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then complete step 4.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

from allrecipes.com

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained

2 ounces canned diced jalapeno peppers, drained

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

French bread

Stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in green chilies and jalapeno peppers. Pour mixture into a microwave safe serving dish, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Microwave on High until hot, about 3 minutes. Serve with warm french bread.

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

adapted from allrecipes.com

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 large prepared graham cracker crust

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (165 degrees C).

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time & fold in sour cream. Remove 1 1/2 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.

Add pumpkin & pumpkin pie spice to the remaining batter and mix until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.

Place pie on a roll pan or baking sheet and pour a small layer of water on the pan to create a water bath.  Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.  Turn off the oven, prop the door and allow the cheesecake to sit for an additional hour. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Marshmallow & Lime Jello Salad

 adapted from allrecipes.com

10 fluid ounces lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

4 cups miniature marshmallows, divided

2 (3 ounce) packages lime flavored gelatin mix

8 ounces cream cheese

1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice

1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

In a saucepan, combine the carbonated beverage and marshmallows. Stir over medium heat until marshmallows melt. Turn off heat and add jello & cream cheese.  Wisk until well well blended and cream cheese lumps are gone.

Add the pineapple and whipped topping and mix well.  Stir in 1 cup of mini marshmallows and pour into a 9x12 inch dish and chill overnight or until set.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

adapted from allrecipes.com

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1 1/2 cups white sugar, divided

1 2/3 cups & 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided

3 eggs, divided

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup vegetable oil or unsweetened applesauce

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and 1 egg; beat until smooth. Set aside. 

Sift together 1 2/3 cup flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and pumpkin pie spice; set aside 

Place pumpkin, vegetable oil/applesauce, 2 eggs and 1 cup sugar in a large bowl; beat well. Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the pecans if desired. Pour 1/2 of the pumpkin batter into the loaf pans. Spoon cream cheese mixture on top of this layer and then pour on the remaining batter.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

So, I messed this up, but it is so good I can't wait to make it again :)  

What I did wrong (pictured above): I only had one 9 inch loaf pan, so I thought I could make a large loaf and maybe a few muffins.  I put in the bottom pumpkin mixture, then 1/2 the cream cheese.  It wasn't until I had already started putting in the top layer that I realized I was not going to have enough left to make anything else.  So I ended up with a really good bread, but with a smaller layer of cream cheese than expected.  Take care to make the bottom layer fairly thin as it will rise when baking.

I think I may go buy two 8 inch loaf pans just so I can make this again soon :)

Frosted Pumpkin Bars

 from allrecipes.com

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 egg

2 egg whites

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons water

4 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel

In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Add egg, egg whites, pumpkin, oil and water; mix well. Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese. Beat in confectioners' sugar, then vanilla and lemon peel. Frost bars. Chill for 15 minutes, then cut. Refrigerate leftovers.

I left out the lemon peel & didn't miss it :)
I made them in a jelly roll pan which is why they are on the thin side & my boys prefer them without the frosting, so I just frosted them as we ate them

Chicken & Pasta

 adapted from allrecipes.com

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
4 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts - cubed

1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 (8 ounce) package cold cream cheese, cubed

1/2 to 3/4 can of Del Monte canned tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
Minced onion & garlic
Salt, pepper & Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese

Bring large pot of water to a boil, and stir in penne pasta. 

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, combine chicken cubes, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, seasoning & broth; simmering until done. Stir in cubed cream cheese and spinach. Return to simmer, and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes, and cook about 3 minutes more. 

In a large bowl, mix together cooked, drained pasta and sauce. Let stand a few minutes & top each serving with cheese before serving.

This is even better as left overs!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Angel Roll

1 Angel Food boxed cake mix
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tbsp butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp vanilla
8oz cream cheese
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 15x10x1 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Grease and flour the paper.
2. Prepare angel food cake mix per the instructions on the box. Bake for 15-30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately turn out onto a linen towel dusted with confectioners sugar. Peel off paper and roll cake up in the towel, starting with the short end. Cool.
3. To Make Filling: Mix confectioners sugar, vanilla, butter or margarine, and cream cheese together till smooth. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Carefully unroll the cake. Spread filling over cake to within 1 inch of edges. Roll up again. Cover and chill until serving.
5. Slice cake, place on plate and top with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
   

Frozen Cranberries

Adapted from Cooking With Stephanie

8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
8 oz Cool Whip
1 Can Whole Cranberries
1 Can Crushed Pineapple with juice
2 cups mini-marshmallows

Mix cream cheese and cool whip thoroughly. Stir in cranberries, pineapple and marshmallows and freeze. Take out of the freezer about 1 hour before serving.

Pumpkin Roll

Adapted from allrecipes.com

Cake:
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
confectioners' sugar for dusting

Filling:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese

Optional:
1/2 cup chopped walnuts* (see below)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 15x10x1 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Grease and flour the paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs on high for five minutes. Gradually add white sugar and pumpkin. Add flour, cinnamon, and baking soda. Spread batter evenly in pan.
   
3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately turn out onto a linen towel dusted with confectioners sugar. Peel off paper and roll cake up in the towel, starting with the short end. Cool.
4. To Make Filling: Mix confectioners sugar, vanilla, butter or margarine, and cream cheese together till smooth.
5. Carefully unroll the cake. Spread filling over cake to within 1 inch of edges. Roll up again. Cover and chill until serving. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar, if desired.

* Walnuts can be added 3 different ways. 1) by sprinkling them evenly on top of the cake batter before baking 2) by mixing them by hand as the final step in creating the filling or 3) by sprinkling them over the individual slice of dessert as a garnish/topping

Frosted Pumpkin Cake

From Cooking Light

Cake:
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup egg substitute
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup applesauce
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
2 teaspoons pumpkin-pie spice
1 (18.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix

Frosting:
2/3 cup (6 ounces) tub-style light cream cheese
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°.

Coat a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray; dust with flour.

To prepare cake, place the egg substitute, granulated sugar, applesauce, and pumpkin in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed for 1 minute. Add pie spice and cake mix, beating at high speed 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake completely on a wire rack.

To prepare frosting, place the cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl; beat at medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating just until blended. (Do not overbeat.) Spread frosting evenly over top of cake.

Frozen Grape Mold

From Dorothy Richards

1/4 cup mayo
4 oz cream cheese
1 small can chunk pineapples, strained & juice reserved
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 cups red & green seedless grapes
1/2 pint whipping cream

Whip together mayo, cream cheese and 3 tablespoons pineapple juice. Slowly fold pineapples, marshmallows and grapes into cream cheese mixture with a spoon. In a separate bowl, whip cream until stiff and fold into the grape mixture. Use mayo as a grease in a round pan and freeze. Remove from freezer and allow to thaw part way before serving. Serve cold.

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

Adapted from allrecipes.com

1/2 package spaghetti or angel hair pasta
1 can Rotel tomatoes & green chilis
1 can condensed cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup cream cheese
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup shredded cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente; drain and return to pot.

To the pasta add the diced tomatoes with green chili peppers, soup, cream cheese, chopped chicken, salt and pepper. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese is melted and mixture is heated through.

I have made this with leftover pasta noodles and cooked chicken. Mixed all the ingredients together and baked covered for 30-45 mins (until warmed through) on 350.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Adapted from: allrecipes.com

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons brown sugar

4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped pecans or oatmeal

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/3 cup oil or unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour 18 muffin cups, or use paper liners.
2. To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, then set aside.
3. For the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.*I used oatmeal in place of pecans and just sprinkled a pinch on top of each muffin just before putting them in the oven.*
   
4. For the muffin batter: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pies spice, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, oil/applesauce and vanilla. Beat together until smooth.
5. Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter. Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping.
6. Bake at 375 degrees F (195 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

I could not get #5 to work for me, so I just put a small amount of batter and then layered the cream cheese mixture followed by batter and then the streusel.

Swiss Mocha Cheesecake

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbs General Foods International Coffee Swiss Mocha powder
1 Tbs milk
1 graham cracker or chocolate crust

Beat cream cheese and sugar, add sour cream, coffee, and milk. Pour into pie crust and chill well.

This is the easiest cheesecake ever! I made it a lot in college and even non-coffee fans liked it. I always use the chocolate crust and even add some mini chocolate chips every now and then :)

Cream Cheese Frosting

From: Cupcakes! From the Cake Mix Doctor

1 package (8 oz) reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tbs (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer until combined. Add sugar, a little at a time, on low speed until well incorporated. Add the vanilla and blend at medium speed until the frosting is fluffy, about 1 minute.

Chicken Roll Ups

From: Lauren Villa

1 cup shredded chicken
4 oz cream cheese
1 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. chives
Salt & Pepper
1 package refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and put mixture into separated crescent rolls. Bake for 15-20 min.

We made these the other night (I added some shredded cheese) and thought they were a bit bland, but not bad. I think next time I would keep the cheese add some green chilies and see if that would give it a bit more flavor.

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning
1 pound shredded cooked chicken meat
8 soft taco size (or larger) flour tortillas
Olive oil spray

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and taco seasoning until well blended. Fold in the chicken. Evenly divide mixture among the 8 tortillas. Fold each tortilla into a rectangular packet around the filling. Place on a cookie sheet and spray with olive oil. Cook for 8 minutes, flip chimichangas and spray again with olive oil. Return to oven and cook another 8 minutes.

I usually 1/2 this recipe as they are rather filling. My husband can eat 2, but served with any sides 1 is sufficient. You can also cut them in half and serve as an appetizer. Serve with salsa, sour cream and/or guacamole.

Turkey Roll-ups

From: Nancie Habben

8 oz whipped cream cheese
1 packet buttermilk ranch dip mix
large tortillas
red leaf lettuce
deli turkey

Combine cream cheese and ranch mix (best if mix is refrigerated for at least 1 hour). On a large tortilla spread a layer of the cream cheese mixture. Add a layer of the lettuce and then a layer of turkey. Roll up tortilla and slice into pinwheels.

You can even make these as wraps, using smaller tortillas. They are also good with an additional layer of swiss cheese. They can even be made the night before and refrigerated.