Philly cream cheese complements and enhances both strong and subtle flavored ingredients. Cream cheese responds favorably to dry heat cooking methods such as baking, roasting or grilling, as well as to moist heat when poached or cooked in a double boiler, as long as it's not allowed to boil.
Adding cream cheese to an ordinary dish can transform it into something extraordinary, which is the case with this pasta dish. Everyday pasta becomes a rich dish when you use Philly cream cheese to impart richness to a delicate, elegant sauce and top it with savory smoked salmon and caviar.
Serve this delightful entrée with a crisp spinach salad, hot Italian bread and Champagne or chilled white wine at your next intimate dinner for four to six, and prepare yourself to collect rave reviews.
Instructions
1. Flake 4 oz. of smoked salmon. Finely chop one bunch of scallions. Chill a 4-oz jar of caviar for at least two hours.
2. Soften an 8-oz. package of Philly cream cheese. Unwrap the package and place the cream cheese in a heat-proof bowl. Microwave it on high power for 30 to 45 seconds to quickly soften it. If you're not in a hurry, just leave the wrapped Philly out at room temperature for about an hour before you're ready to use it.
3. Warm two 8-oz. cartons of heavy whipping cream. Empty them into a heat-proof bowl and microwave on high for 30 to 60 seconds, or until the cream is about as warm as bath water.
4. Melt a stick of butter in a heavy skillet. Add the chopped scallions and saute them until tender over medium-low heat. Add 1 tsp. of Italian seasoning, 1 tsp. ground black pepper and ½ tsp. ground white pepper. Blend well.
5. Stir the room temperature Philly cream cheese and the warmed heavy whipping cream into the skillet. Continue stirring until the ingredients are well blended and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
6. Add 1 oz. of grated Parmesan cheese and stir well. Turn the heat down and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Cook and drain a 1-lb. package of angel hair pasta. Portion into warm serving bowls and pour the sauce over the pasta, tossing to blend well. Top each with 1 tbsp. of flaked smoked salmon and 1 tsp. of chilled caviar. Serve immediately.
Tags: cream cheese, Philly cream cheese, smoked salmon, caviar Serve, cream cheese, heat-proof bowl, heavy whipping