5 new ways with cream cheese

1. Tear-and-share puff pastry and cream-cheese squares

Lightly score a thawed sheet of puff pastry into bite-sized squares. Beat 1 free-range egg, brush onto the pastry and bake for 20 minutes at 200°C, or until golden. Top each square with 1 t Woolworths’ medium-fat cream cheese with chermoula, red pepper chutney & almonds. Add fresh rocket or microherbs and serve as a canapé for guests. Let them tear off tasty little squares as need be.

2. Cream cheese pasta with pear and Parma ham

Fold 3 –4 T Woolworths’ smoked salmon flavoured, lemon zest and dill cream cheese into 250 g cooked, hot pasta (e.g. tagliatelle). Top with 1 or 2 diced fresh pears and a few wafers of Parma ham or crispy bacon. Serve hot with drizzle of olive oil and cracked black pepper.

3. Cream cheese veggie stack

Thinly slice 2 brinjals. Rub with olive oil and season. Fry on a hot griddle pan until charred on each side. Divide the brinjal between 4 plates. Stack, adding generous helpings of Woolworths’ cream cheese with tomato and herbs between each layer. Serve with basil pesto, sliced red salad onions, a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh basil.

4. Cream-cheese chilli poppers

Slice and seed 12 jalapeños and stuff with 200 g Woolworths’ smoky BBQ and spring onion full-fat cream cheese. Wrap with spring-roll pastry strips and deep fry until golden brown. Eat hot with sweet chilli dipping sauce.

5. Ginger crumbed cream cheese balls

Crush 1 packet ginger biscuits until fine. Toss with the same quantity of panko crumbs. Roll 140 g Woolworths’ medium fat cream cheese bites into the crumbs. Be sure to push the balls into the crumbs to coat generously. Chill to firm, then shallow-fry in hot oil for a few seconds until golden. Serve hot with salad.

What's the trick to a successful dinner party? A great platter, that's what!

Discover more about Woolies' Easy-to-Entertain range here.