The Passover Cream Cheese Butterfly Effect

You’ve all heard about the butterfly effect -- the idea that one small event or change can have a large effect somewhere else.  In classic theory, a butterfly flapping its wings can create a hurricane or tsunami halfway around the world.  You don’t go into Passover expecting to lose weight.  It’s a holiday and we are surrounded by delicious foods and wine all week long.  Your best hope is damage control.  And to be honest, after all the work cooking, cleaning and koshering a little indulgence is well deserved and need not induce any (more) Jewish guilt. However, it’s the little decisions we make along the way that will tip the scales, one way or another.  During Passover, I love matzo and cream cheese, especially the fluffy white stuff from Temp Tee.  It’s comfort food.  It’s not going on a cookbook cover, but it doesn’t have to go on my thighs either. Here’s my secret… Temp Tee whipped cream cheese has 80 calories and 8g fat in a single serving.  Made with only 5 simple ingredients and no artificial preservatives.  A leading brand brick cream cheese has 100 calories and 9g fat in a single serving.  That’s 25% more calories!  Whipped cream cheese has more air which means fewer calories.  Plus, whipped cream cheese is very spreadable and makes it easier to spread less.  So take it easy on your matzo and take less calories every day. A little whipped cream cheese can add lots of creaminess to dozens of Passover recipes.  You can cut down on higher fat hard cheeses, heavy cream and other high calorie, high fat dairy products. I think I hear a butterfly flapping its wings somewhere… [caption id="attachment_70798" align="aligncenter" width="558" caption="Creamy Stuffed Mushrooms"][/caption] I love stuffed mushrooms.  I also love cream of mushroom soup.  So why not combine the two for a deliciously creamy, bite-size appetizer.  And munch on this, it’s only 60 calories a serving! [caption id="attachment_70802" align="aligncenter" width="558" caption="Crustless Quiche with Asparagus and Oven Roasted Tomatoes"][/caption] A crustless quiche is a Passover classic.  It can be part of light lunch or a grab and go breakfast.  I brought together the smoky sweetness of oven roasted tomatoes, the tang of whipped cream cheese and asparagus for a marvelous mouthful made in a muffin pan.  150 calories never tasted so good! [caption id="attachment_70807" align="aligncenter" width="558" caption="Passover Sweet Potato Gnocchi"][/caption] A week without pasta isn’t easy.  No wonder gnocchi is one of the hottest Passover food trends.  You can hardly tell the difference and this Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage recipe is so good, you’ll be making it year round.  With this on your menu, eight days of Passover might not be enough. [caption id="attachment_70811" align="aligncenter" width="558" caption="Strawberry Cream Cheese Ice Cream"][/caption] We can't forget dessert.  The whipped cream cheese replaces heavy cream and eggs in traditional recipes so that you can whip this together in 30 minutes.  There won't be any time for your kids to scream for this ice cream.