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The Kitchen Table

What would you do with fat-free cream cheese?

18 years ago

I'm guessing the most popular answer will be "nothing." :-)

I bought a package of the stuff on impulse, and I have no clue what to do with it. It doesn't taste very good by itself (no surprise there), and I don't imagine it can be automatically substituted for regular cream cheese in a recipe without some sort of accommodation to the fact that it contains no fat.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Susan

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Comments (17)

phyllis__mn
18 years ago
I've made spread with it, using chopped olives and nutmeats.
It turned out OK.
wildchild
18 years ago
I'd toss it. Yucky stuff.Even in spreads or dips you couldn't disguise it enough for me.
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Cheese Ball 8 oz. cream cheese 1/2 lb. sharp cheddar 1/2 C. chopped pecans 1 clove garlic mashed with 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1 T. mayo MIx in blender. Chill. form into ball in roll in chopped nuts. Crab, cream cheese and chili sauce 8 oz. crab meat 8 oz. package cream cheese green onions sliced Sauce 1/2 C. chili sauce 1 tsp horseradish 1 tsp worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce 2 T. lemon juice 1 tsp chopped chives 1/4 tsp. parsley 1 tsp salt Spread cream cheese in small pie plate. Cover with crab meat. top with sauce. Sprinkle with green onions. Serve with triscuits. Christmas pudding (I don't know where this name came from but that's what we call it) 8 oz. cream cheese 1 pkg. chipped beef 1/8 sp. pepper 2 tsp. milk 2 tsp. minced green onions 1/2 C. sour cream Mix together and place in 8" pie plate. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Bake 350 for 15 minutes. Serve with crackers Beef Cheese logs 1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 T.mayo 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 T. chopped green olives (I like to use jalapeÃÂ±o stuffed) * 1 T. minced parsley 1 tsp. finely chopped onions 1/2 C. finely snipped dried beef Blend cheese with mayo and worcestershire. Add olives, parsley and onion. On waxed paper, shape into two rolls 1 1/2" in diameter. Chill until firm. Roll in chopped dried beef. Serve with crackers. *Can use pimento stuffed olives, too. I don't even like olives but I love this. This post was edited by georgysmom on Sat, Jan 10, 15 at 13:37
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monica_pa Grieves
18 years ago
Toss it.
I also made the same mistake - once. Tried to use it, it was horrible. And it was the top brand...Philadelphia. I shudder to think what another brand might taste like.
ronf_gw
18 years ago
I have a recipe for chocolate chip cheesecake that calls for fat free cream cheese, 3 packages. What's better than guiltless cheese cake?
Interested?
Ron
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
18 years ago
I have made dirt pudding with the low fat or fat free (maybe) cream cheese. I also substitute low fat or fat free cool whip (or its generic) in place of the full fat.

I also use Sam's choice cookies (chocolate with white filling) in place of oreos. I've never had a complaint yet, and it was always a hit as much as the full fat version.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Dirt Pudding
liira
18 years ago
pour a lite soy sauce over it and seasame seeds, and let it sit for awhile. You would be surprised how good it is with crackers. first time I saw that, I thought no way, but it was good.
justlinda
18 years ago
My first thought was "wish I was fat free" LOL.

I find many of the dishes made with fat free ingredients don't have enough "youza" factor for me, but sometimes just adding your own flavourings works.
FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
I'd mix it with 2 packages of full-fat cream cheese and make a giant cheesecake!
grammahony
18 years ago
Mix it in some mashed potatoes? or blend it in with some regular cream cheese.
Leslie
alisande
Original Author
18 years ago
I'll have to pass on the cheesecake, Ron, but thanks. I can't eat sweets myself......I do bake for my kids, but they're young enough to enjoy the full-fat versions.

Liira, the soy sauce/sesame seed idea sounds like my kind of food. I'll give it a try.

Thanks, everyone!
gardenspice
18 years ago
Pour some Raspberry Chipotle, Peach or regular ol' salsa on it and it with some crackers.
Another option: top it with pesto and pecans.
kacram
18 years ago
add a little lemon juice to shrimp add a little garlic, and then mix it up really well into the cream cheese, then add to crackers or my fave... the center of a celery stalk. Add LOTS of shrimp! YUMMY
lilliepad
18 years ago
TOSS IT! Can't stand the stuff.Made the mistake of Buyin it one time for a cheesecake and had to throw the cake out.Yep Ron,it was guiltless cuz nobody would eat it!LOL What a waste of ingredients.
workoutlady
18 years ago
I must be the only one who can't tell the difference at all. I'd use it on anything that calls for cream cheese.
dances_in_garden
18 years ago
We can't get the fat free here, just the regular and "light" which is the neufchatel cheese. I prefer the light.

My mom bought me a container of fat free from the US, and it was HORRIBLE. It was too sweet and it made me gag, it had a strong "fake sour cream" taste - like the sour cream part of the powder they put on sour cream and onion flavoured potato chips. Which of course make me gag too LOL. I can't eat a lot of cheese flavoured snack foods because of that creamy powder taste.
grinch_gut
18 years ago
Nope scissors you are not teh only one I can't tell the diff either......I must not have really good taste buds but then I buy lowfat or fat free everything....Stacy
whidbeykathy
18 years ago
I agree, toss it..nothing tastes good with it.

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