Everything Cream Cheese Food

"EVERYTHING" CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and onion with garlic flakes. Stir half the mixture into cream cheese. Smear on a plain toasted bagel, topped with extra seeds, or serve as a spread to amp up crackers.

"EVERYTHING" BISCUITS WITH VEGETABLE CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion and flaky salt on a small plate (see Cook's Note).
• Position a rack on the bottom shelf of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt in a food processor. Pulse until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is in pea-size pieces. Add 1 cup of the buttermilk and pulse several times until the dough just comes together but is not fully incorporated.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and pat into a 12-by-6-inch rectangle with the long side facing you. Lightly mark the dough in thirds vertically. Using a bench scraper or your hands, fold the dough upon itself like a letter: Pick up the first third and fold it on top of the center third. Next, pick up the remaining third and fold it over the first two. Using your hands, press the dough back into a 12-by-6-inch rectangle, making sure the work surface and dough are still lightly floured and repeat the letter fold. Press the dough into a 10-by-7.5-inch rectangle, then cut into twelve 2 1/2-inch squares. Brush the tops with buttermilk and then dip into the "everything" spice blend.
• Arrange on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the bottoms are golden brown and the biscuits are cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes, rotating the pan once halfway through baking. Let the biscuits cool slightly on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons buttermilk in a large bowl. Stir in the scallions, bell peppers, carrots and celery. Season with kosher salt. Transfer to a small serving bowl and serve alongside the warm biscuits.

CREAM CHEESE AND OLIVE EVERYTHING

Steps:

• If my cream cheese is not at room temperature (as it usually is not), I put it in a bowl and microwave it just a little to soften it--don't cook it.
• On a bread board, cut the olives up; if you want more or less, use what you like (I like a lot of olives).
• Put in the olive juice and milk and mix well.
• If you want it for a dip, add the sour cream--adding more if you want.
• Keep refrigerated.

EVERYTHING BAGEL PRETZEL TWISTS WITH SCALLION CREAM CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• Place racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line two half sheet pans with parchment paper and spray the parchment generously with nonstick spray.
• For the dough: Whisk the buttermilk, brown sugar and yeast in a liquid measuring cup. Set aside.
• Put the flour, baking powder and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Use a hand whisk to combine. Add the oil and mustard and then pour in the buttermilk mixture. Mix in the stand mixer on low speed until combined, then scrape the bowl and dough hook. Mix on low speed until smooth and stretchy, 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough looks very sticky or isn't coming away from the sides of the bowl into one mass during the first minute of mixing, add up to an additional 2 tablespoons of flour.
• Continue to mix until smooth and the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and cut into 12 rough portions. Pre-shape each portion into a rough 3- to 4-inch-long log. Place the portions on one of the prepared greased and parchment-lined half sheet pans, cover with a kitchen towel and let rest 5 to 10 minutes.
• For the soak: Meanwhile, put the water in a large skillet (so that you have about 1 inch of water). Stir in 1/3 cup baking soda and 2 tablespoons brown sugar and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Keep the soak at a simmer while you roll the pretzels and make the dip.
• For the scallion cream cheese dip: Reserve 1 teaspoon of the scallion greens for garnish. Stir together the cream cheese, mustard, remaining scallions, onion powder, brown sugar and salt a large bowl with a rubber spatula until smooth. Stir in the yogurt until smooth. Taste and season with additional salt or onion powder if needed. Transfer to a small bowl, top with the reserved 1 teaspoon scallions, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve so the flavors can meld.
• To form the pretzel twists: Roll 1 portion of dough into a 10- to 12-inch rope and then loosely twist 3 to 4 times, sealing the ends with a touch of water. Use as little flour as possible when rolling. Place the twists on the two greased and parchment-lined half sheet pan, 6 twists per sheet pan.
• Working in batches, place 3 to 4 pretzels at a time in the simmering baking soda solution and soak 20 seconds per side. Using a spider or two spoons, transfer to a kitchen towel to drain, then transfer back to the sheet pan. Sprinkle generously with the everything bagel seasoning blend.
• Bake, rotating top to bottom and front to back about halfway through, until deep golden brown and springy to the touch, 14 to 16 minutes. Cool the pretzel twists on the sheet pans until warm, about 10 minutes. Serve with the scallion cream cheese dip.

EVERYTHING CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
• Break the bagel into small pieces and place in a blender or food processor. Pulse to create crumbs (don't make them too fine).
• Combine the breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons everything seasoning and olive oil. Mix well to combine. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and cheddar cheese.
• Cut each chicken breast lengthwise (so it opens like a book) but don't cut all the way through. Fill each breast with the cream cheese mixture. Season with salt & pepper.
• Mix beaten egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour and dip into the beaten egg. Roll in the bagel crumbs and place on a baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with remaining everything seasoning.
• Bake on prepared pan for 35-40 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

EVERYTHING CREAM CHEESE SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Pour milk into a liquid measuring cup. Add whole egg, whisk to combine, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, w hisk flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add cream cheese and butter and then, using your fingers or a pastry blender, work cream cheese and butter into the flour mixture until butter pieces are pea-size or smaller. (Cream cheese will work in more seamlessly.)
• Pour in milk-egg mixture, and then stir until mostly combined. Add 2 tablespoons chives and mix with your hands until combined. (Dough will be stiff.) Do not overmix.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into an 8- by 6-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 8 rectangles (about 3- by 2-inches each). Arrange at least 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheet.
• Whisk egg white and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl, and then brush tops of the dough rectangles with the egg white mixture. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning and remaining 1 tablespoon chives.
• Bake until scones are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.