Philadelphia Chocolate Cream Cheese Review

 Okay, before I get started, I want you all to know that I am over the moon that we finally got this product in Canada.  I read about it on some blogs I think and right away I was all "We need to move south!!" And Hubby just rolled his eyes, and said something about liking being around family or whatever.  But he hates cream cheese, so I cannot really expect him to get it.  But I know you guys will. Seriously I have only used this a few times already and it is going to change your life.  I know, dramatic, but I just need you to understand, you need this item, right now!!!!!

  Anyway, I saw on face book we finally had this and I went right to the store after work with Pork Chop, I had to bribe him by buying him a pound or so of olives, but I got what I went for.  As I was cashing out the cashier was all "have you tried that, it looks weird!"  And I was all "I have so many plans for it, you need to try it!" And she sort of just gave me a crazy look, because she probably doesn't understand the impact this is going to have.  Or something like that.

My first simple test.

So for my first try I just wanted something really simple, because I wanted to actually try the product how it was made.  Trust me I already have about 50 ideas in my head, and I don't have the money to buy that much cream cheese.  If you are out there makers of Philly Chocolate Cream Cheese of the Gods, feel free to send me about 100 tubs.  That should last me at least a month. Give or take.

It looked like chocolate, pure and simple!

 So firstly, I had no idea this product was a spread before I saw it, I always assumed it was in block form. I didn't really care, I got two tubs and I bought these super fat lady finger cookies.  I figure simple would let me really try it.  And Oh. My. Gosh!  It was good.

 So it looks like this is being marketed akin to Nutella.  But with I think 50% less sugar. It was on the tin foil label, but I was in a rush to taste it, so I sort of tossed that out fast.  Anyway.  I don't agree.  Nutella is it's own beast, I mean it is thick and rich and super sweet and almost like peanut butter.  Where as this, well it's hard to describe.  The flavour is out of this world, and the texture is perfect for spreading, or if you are one of those weird people that likes fruit, it could be an instant fruit dip.  But I won't go there.  Sorry.

I didn't put too much, I was being stupid, you want to put lots, trust me.

 In my first use, I just made cookie sandwiches.  I just spread a bunch in between two soft cookies, and then I ate them.  It was so good, it has this almost tart kick to it, like a sour cream.  But it was sweet but in a way that is was not over powering like Nutella can be.  I personally don't think I would eat this on toast, it is just not the same to me.  But the things I have planned, oh you just wait..  I am honestly going to spend a lot of time with this and make a few things.

Try to ignore the fact my fingers are almost as chubby as the cookies.

I really liked the taste of it just like this, and even found myself using it as a dip for cookies.  It really is good. And I sound like a girl with a high school crush, and gosh darn it, I am so happy with this.  I have read about products and waited for them only to feel blah about them.  So far this is a keeper.  So stay tuned I have plans, and I will be sharing them.  Then I will invest in cream cheese stock, or just hoard the stuff.

So these only lasted 12 hours and that is because I was sleeping, they were gone really fast.

Have you tried it yet?  What do you think?

Easy Valentines Day Marshmallow Pops

 These are super easy to make, and they are tasty and they are cute.  Three really good things in a treat.  I first saw something like this when my friend Staci made them.  She showed me and I was all, "seriously, chocolate and sprinkles, why did I not think of that?"  

 Then she gave me a smug smile, and think she was all "I am Martha Stewart! Don't be hating!" Or she was just smiling, because I told her how smart she was, either way.  

 So I have not been doing much baking the last few weeks, burn out and my dad in the hospital just left me not wanting to make anything.  But I felt it was about time I send in a treat for Pork Chops hockey team.  So I suggested these and he was all "Marshmallows!!!!!!"  Do I know my boy or what?

I love sprinkles, in case you didn't know that already.  I wait all  year just to use these heart ones!

  So I would prefer to make these with home made marshmallows, but that would totally defeat the point of a simple quick treat.  And kids don't care one way or the other, as long as it is full of sugar, they will be happy.  So I grabbed a bag of large marshmallows, not the jumbo camp fire ones, those are crazy!  Maybe next time.

I just used an old take out container, it was wide enough that Pork Chop could work with it easily.

 Anyway Pork Chop actually wanted to help me so he washed his hands while I got our stuff together.  It was still January, but I figure Valentines day needed to be celebrated sooner rather than later.  So I just mixed some white sprinkles with these heart sprinkles.  And there you go, instant valentines treat!

And since we rolled the marshmallows in the sprinkles, not too many fell on the floor.

  I melted the chocolate and got Pork Chop to set up the marshmallows, he was so proud as he kept telling me he was making a pattern.  It's times like these I love him, other times, well I love him, but I want to hurt him.

Making his pattern.

 So once that was done we had to put the sticks in, and Pork Chop did almost all of them himself.

Putting the sticks in the marshmallows.  Also quick cute story from Hubby.  Pork Chop now plays on my lap top, and one morning it said something like "windows needs to close" and he was all "but the windows are closed!" And pointed at the house windows.  Man sometimes he is so innocent it kills me.

 Then I said, "I have to take a picture!"

He is too big, I may have to stop feeding him.

 And I did, and he didn't really smile so much as he looked like he was trying not to hurt me.  Whatever, I got it.  So once we got that done, we worked as a team.  I would dip the marshmallows and tap off the extra chocolate and he would roll them around in the sprinkles and set them back on the parchment paper to dry.  It seriously took us like 10 minutes, not even.

I was so thinking this didn't look like 1000 and started counting, when I got to 50 and realized there are probably more than 1000 in there, they are thinner than the ones you would buy here thought but they work fine.

  Then as they dried he went and got a drink and I got out the plastic bags and twist ties.  I really like using the twist ties, they are so much faster to work with than ribbon.  But they cost a lot at the baking store, like $30  for 1000, which really isn't much, but I can get that many ribbons cut and tied for less than $2.  I may have to rethink it, I don't know.  Anyway, I got these off of ebay, they were 1000 for under $2, free shipping too.  So they are amazing, and I hope I don't run out soon.

All ready to be wrapped.

  I love how cute they are. And Pork Chops team seems to like them too.

I had to share this picture, he is so big he just jumps on the counter to get things. I used to do that as a kid.  I tried a bit ago when I needed something up high, but I almost broke a hip, so I use a chair.  Man I am old!

I am also linking up HERE

Tuxedo Strawberries

These are the ones I made for the wedding, they actually looked ok.

So I hate fruit in deserts.  It's like you are almost trying to get me to eat healthy.  I am not fooled by your chocolate and sugar covered fruit.  I know it's fruit and no way and I going to fall for it!  That being said, I have a few exceptions, but then again, I am a whole ball of confusing rules and they are not to be explained.  So just know that I know what I am talking about. Okay?

 So I have seen these strawberries many times, and I had never made them before.  I promised them to my friend when I was doing her wedding, and then I realized I had not made them.  And I sort of knew what I was doing, but not really.  I had the idea, and I had no time to look it up.  So I just did it and they turned out really well. Other than the fact I hate working with white chocolate, they were super easy.  And other than the fact that I never took any real pictures at the time, this is what you get.  I was at the store and the strawberries actually looked nice so I planed to do a whole tutorial about them.  Then I actually got to it and wanted to hurt someone. Lucky that Pork Chop and Hubby were at hockey.

I gave up after four, the chocolate was all crappy and I was tearing the green part out trying to dip them. So the rest were just covered in milk chocolate and I ate them, and got sick.  It must have been the fruit, it was too healthy and my tummy revolted.

  Firstly my stupid white chocolate was too thick and I was just not able to get a nice dip on,  in the end I got one half decent strawberry.  And that is all your getting. I did get a great comment from Tam and I am going to try her way one of these days, just not today.

So to start, you need clean, dry strawberries with the stems on.  Milk (or dark chocolate) and white chocolate.

This was the only one that half looked like a real good one.  I didn't even take a picture of the strawberry I piped on, no idea why, I may have been just ticked off with the whole thing.

  So I wash all my strawberries and lay them out on paper towel, rolling them into new dry paper towel a few times.  If they are wet it can ruin your chocolate.  So then you need to melt your white chocolate, this will be the "shirt" of your tuxedo.  So hold your strawberry by the stem and dip it as far as you can in the white chocolate, shake a little to get the extra off and place it on parchment paper to dry.  Now if you know what you are doing with white chocolate, this will be easy.  If you are like me, you will try and your stems will rip off, and you will have gloopy strawberries.  Even though you thinned it out with paraffin crystals and everything.  This will result in you giving up after four strawberries.  Just so you know.

  Anyway let those dry while you melt your milk  or dark chocolate.  I also envision someone doing an 80's version with baby blue chocolate. That so has to happen!!! Anyway, once your chocolate is melted you start double dipping your strawberries.  I think this will be the only time you can actually double dip without it being gross.

I took this picture to show you my cone making skills.  Which really are not skills since they are pre cut papers, I just roll them together.

  So holding the strawberry by the stem, dip it on an angle so you cover one side then the other, doing it so you have a v of white chocolate showing still.  I was going to get action shots, but by this time I just wanted to toss it all out the window.  So whatever.

  So once that is done you can decorate them.  There are a few ways to do this.  I took the fastest way, which should be no surprise to any of you.  I used a parchment paper cone and piped on the buttons and bow tie.  If you want you can use edible markers or even sprinkles.  How cute would two heart sprinkles be as a bow tie?  Anyway you can do whatever.

  Now when you are storing these you do not want to put them in the fridge.  They are best the day of, but if you have to keep them over night just box them up and leave in a cool environment.  If you put them in the fridge they will get condensation on them.  I usually just put mine in the fridge because no one else but me will be eating them.  Pork Chop just takes the chocolate off and eats the strawberry, which is crazy. What kid removes the good part and eats that fruit.  Only mine it seems.

 Anyway, they were at hit at the wedding, and I ate these ones only to make sure no one saw how bad they were.