cream cheese

We're fans of Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese, but we have been less impressed with the new members of its brand family, like Snack Delights and Cooking Creme (eek!). So when the company sent over Spicy Jalapeño ($3), a new flavor on shelves now, we had our suspicions. Would it really taste spicy? And would we really be able to detect a true jalapeño flavor?

When I first opened the cream cheese, it appeared watery and grainy, with large green jalapeño chunks — not a very attractive sight. A few stirs with a spoon reincorporated the cream cheese, but it still had an uneven consistency, as if the jalapeños had curdled the cream cheese. However, a whiff of the container quieted my skepticism that the product had gone bad. It had that signature, slightly tangy Philadelphia cream cheese scent, with a peppery kick from the jalapeño. But did it have the flavor and texture to match? See the star rating and our taste testers' surprising response when you read more.

While there's nothing tastier than a big schmear of cream cheese on a freshly toasted bagel, this tasty spread can multitask in some amazing ways. Whether you're going for something savory or sweet, cream cheese can add a layer of delicious decadence that won't go unnoticed by the people who love to chow down on your food. Ready to get inspired? Here are five creative ways to make the most of the cute cream cheese tub in your fridge.

1. Add it to a dip. The addition of some cream cheese to your favorite dip can give it a whole new depth of flavor. If you haven't added cream cheese to a dip recipe before, we're partial to these tasty mushroom goat cheese queso and caramelized vidalia onion dips, both starring cream cheese.
2. Create a creamy marinara. Throwing together a last-minute weeknight supper? Take your traditional marinara sauce to the next level by adding a heaping helping of tasty cream cheese to the pan when you're heating up your red sauce. This is an easy way to make your basic sauce a little more exciting to everyone at the table.

Keep reading for three more tasty ways to enjoy cream cheese.

Taking time to enjoy some tea and toast is one of my favorite morning rituals. Some days I just put butter on my toast, and other days I want to mix it up with honey or jam. As evidenced by the plethora of options inside my fridge door, I seem to never have enough toppings! The problem is, when we slather on one of our favorite spreads, we're also adding additional calories, fat, and sugar to our breakfast routine.

Keep reading to see a chart on everything you need to know about common toast toppings like jam, honey, and chocolate spread.

You may not have heard of cooking creme — yet. But according to Kraft's Philadelphia Cream Cheese, it's going to be the next big supermarket phenomenon. Early next year, Kraft Foods will launch Philadelphia Cooking Creme in stores, along with what's being called one of the largest ad campaigns in company history. "This is going to be one of the biggest launches that cheese and dairy has ever had," Philadelphia brand manager Adam Butler told Ad Age.

The refrigerated creme will come in four flavors: original, savory garlic, Santa Fe, and Italian herb and is designed to be used as a sauce for sautéing and pan-frying. A similar version is already available in Australian markets, where's it's being touted as having 60 percent less fat than regular cream.

Sounds like an interesting concept, but what's the point? Don't we already use cream cheese in everything from pasta to dips to cheesecake? Between cream cheese, neufchâtel, whipped cream, and sour cream, it seems to me the bases are all covered. What do you think of the concept? Would you buy it?

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Between planning a Halloween costume and cooking for a pre-going-out dinner, you probably don't have much time to make an elaborate dessert. That's why you shouldn't be ashamed to take some help from the grocery store and make brownies out of a box. However, be sure to jazz them up with cream cheese and give them a fabulous themed name like "scream cheese swirl brownies."

Follow this quick, easy, and foolproof recipe and none of your guests will know you didn't make the brownies from scratch. Throw in your favorite Halloween candy and you'll have a complete dessert spread in a matter of minutes. Check out the recipe here.

In the Fall, when the pears are plentiful, I enjoy experimenting with new pear preparations. Doesn't this one for a pear pizza sound scrumptious and interesting? It's not a sweet dessert pie, but a savory entree that makes for a delicious dinner. The other toppings include brown-sugar-coated bacon, cream cheese, green onions, feta cheese, and fresh basil. Each ingredient provides a different texture that gives the pizza depth, complexity, and richness. Sliced into smaller pieces, it would be an excellent appetizer.

I'm betting this recipe's a winner, so learn how it's made after the jump.

Fresh berries and flaky puff pastry are always a winning combination. To keep up with our berry tempting recipe series, I made mini blueberry-vanilla cream cheese pies that are simple and delicious. I was a little zealous while filling them and clearly overdid it — thus, my pies popped open during baking. Regardless, they were still mighty tasty!

This recipe is a great staple to have on hand when you want to impress guests with pastries. Feel free to substitute another berry or flavor the cream cheese mixture with citrus zest or a different extract. My next round will be raspberries with a lemony cream cheese. Get started on your own pocket pies by reading more.

I'm a huge fan of dips: I serve them at all my parties and am constantly searching for the best dip recipes. Although I've made classic onion dip a couple of times, I've been disappointed with the variations I've tried. None of them tasted better than the onion dip from a seasoning packet. I was just about to give up on homemade onion dip, until one day, while browsing Katie Lee's book, The Comfort Table, I stumbled upon her recipe. It seemed simple enough and since it would pair well with brie-stuffed burgers, I decided to make it. Good thing, because — finally — I've found a wonderful onion dip! It's thick and creamy with a rich caramelized onion flavor. Lee recommends serving it with homemade potato chips, but I paired it with thick-cut Kettle Chips and it was absolutely delicious. Warning: it's an addictive dip; you might just eat it all! Here's her recipe.