Confession time.
When I was a kid I LOVED Easy Cheese. That cheese "stuff" found in a can that you can squirt in fun patterns onto crackers. You know.... this stuff.
And yes... I have squirted it directly in my mouth on more than one occasion. Come on. Fess up. YOU have too! 😉
Even though I refuse to buy it now I still enjoy they idea of an "easy" cheese. Hubby and I love to share an order of nachos when we go out now and then. And sometimes I find, plain veggies just aren't enough. I want to DIP them in something.
So I set out to make myself a single-serve dip-able Nacho cheese for those nights I just want, well, something cheesy!
Honestly, the result was better then I ever expected! I started with two of my new favorite Laughing Cow products...
and ended with this silky cheese sauce...
Here's how I did it.
- 1 Mini Babybel® Cheddar Round
- 1 wedge of the Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle
- 1 tbsp skim milk
Note: You could totally use any flavor cheese you like but this combo really duplicated that yummy generic yelllow cheese you get on an order of nachos.
Oh! and I went a little picture happy again. Sometime I just get into it. 🙂
Remove the wrapper and wax from the Mini Babybel Round.
Place it in the bottom of a coffee mug or small glass bowl.
Melt the cheese in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
Add the wedge of The Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle.
Mix the two cheeses together with a fork. It's going to look a little stringing and, well, gross.
Don't worry about it. Pop it back into the microwave for 10 seconds and stir again.
Add the the milk.
Stir and return one final time to the microwave for 10 more seconds. Remove and stir again.
You're done! Start dipping!
I transfered mine to a new bowl for our photo shoot and then enjoyed dipping way! A few of my favorites include pepper strips, sugar snap peas,
whole wheat crackers,
pretzels,
and carrot sticks.
I told you. I went picture happy with my cheese. It was just so good and made eating that plate of veggies SUPER fun. 🙂
| Servings | Amt per Serving | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | entire recipe | |||
| Calories | Fat | Fiber | WWPs | |
| 110 | 7g | 0g | old: 3 | new: 3 |
| Sugar | Sat Fat | Carbs | Protein | |
| 2g | 4g | 3g | 8g | |
Disclosure: I've partnered with The Laughing Cow. Click here for more info and click here to see all my ideas using the Laughing Cow!
I used a white cheddar mini Babybel round & a creamy pepper jack wedge (because that's what I had in my fridge). It was AMAZING and so easy!
i finally found a store by me that carries the cheddar babybels and was able to give this a try. loved it! the only problem was my kids who wanted to share. next time i make it i'll hide in the closet and eat it. 😉
Sapna - I added the link to the ingredients and it's pictured in the first photo.
wht is light queso fresco & chipolte
I love this!! Brilliant!
It should be fine.
Would soy milk work for this, or another dairy free milk? I can have Laughing Cow cheese, as long as I take a lactaid pill, but actual milk is way too much lactose for me.
Just made this today! I added a teaspoon of salsa and a few drops of tabasco and had it with some baked corn chips--great for that crunchy, cheesy fix when I'm sitting and watching a movie! The cheeses were a little hard to find for me too but I think they are starting to get carried at a few more outlets around me.
Thanks for inspiring a delicious dip for my celery today. I unwrapped 2 of the Lite Swiss wedges and mashed them then added about a 1/2 tsp homemade taco seasoning (no salt) and stirred until smooth. It was yummy! Next time I will add a little salsa as I read through the comments *after* snack time. 🙂
You are a GENIUS!!!
You are nothing short of genius...this is DELICIOUS...and this is from someone who would never even want that yellow stuff that gets pumped out of a machine to go on top of nachos..this was amazing! THANKS!!!
Hally, thank you so much! I don't normally shop at Lucky's, but would be willing to travel to find one nearby! Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
Delish~had it this wknd. Perfect excuse for mommy time snack! topped it with grape tomatoes & grn onions for a fully nacho taste!
LISA~I live in the South Bay & found ours @ Lucky's. (formally Albertson's). They had a few varieties of LC, plus a couple of Babybel.
OMGsh! I'm DROOLING! I wish I had some tonight!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the link! Yes, so many good ideas!
Oh this will be perfect with some baked/toasted naan!
Ahhhh this one...
http://ronisweigh.com/2007/07/laughing-cow-light-cheese-wedges.html
So many great ideas there!
Hey! I was looking on this site and your Roni's Weigh site the other night to see ideas for LC cheese because I wanted to make a queso, and I remembered that a long while back you had people give ideas for using LC cheese. But I could not find that blog. Do you remember what I'm talking about? Anyway, since I couldn't find it, I melted the Laughing Cow Light Fresco and Chipotle cheese with Rotel tomatoes and chilies. I was looking for the taste of the Rotel dip that uses Velveeta cheese, but with less calories. I think I used 5 LC cheeses to 1 can of Rotel. It was delicious but very spicy. I think I did this the same night you made your dip. What a coincidence!
And I just scrolled up a few comments and saw someone else already recommended and you commented. Dang it. I thought I was being all smartypants and cool. 🙁
Oh man that looks tasty and I love Laughing Cow. You could even turn it into a queso with some salsa and get some more "veggies" that way! Yummerz.
Hi Roni,
I just found your blog via Jenn's Slim Shoppin site. Just had to send a "thanks" for such a fun site. I LOVE your photos, and the recipes look amazing. I've bookmarked and will visit often. (I may also give those bean chocolate chip cookies a go sometime very soon!) Have a great day!
Lokks delish. Very easy to make...thanks for this recipe.
Salsa was my next addition! I was thinking the same thing! 🙂
That is a great idea for lower calorie queso! You are so creative. I usually dilute my queso with low sodium chicken broth. You might try that instead of milk and add a splash of hot sauce or salsa.
Looks like I'm going to have to beat whomever stocks our Babybel stuff! We get TWO flavors! White and Lite White! Which are good, but I LOOOOOVE cheddar! I was able to expand my horizon with Laughing Cow wedges, thanks to Sam's Club. Mozzarella, Basil and Sundried Tomato flavor is excellent!
Lisa - I'm checking with The Laughing Cow folks to see how popular it is. I know both are fairly new so they may not have penetrated the market yet.
I will totally try it! Your Easy Cheese reference totally cracks me up...making designs on wheat thins with it is something I always remember about childhood vacations (the only time we got it).
Lots of time I will find laughing cow in the specialty cheese case for those of you having trouble. thelaughingcow.com has a product locator on their site just above the sign in area so you can input your zip code for area stores and the product you are seeking. hope that helps!
So I went to 3 more stores today, and couldn't find either cheese. Are they pretty new products that you're receiving because of your partnership with Laughing Cow? Or is it just a West Coast deficiency?
This sounds awesome! BTW just received the cookbook and I LOVE IT! I read thru it and love all the tips you give!
WOW! You're a genius!
So easy and it looks do delicious! 🙂
The cheesey snack idea I have been longing for....yum
I love this! What a great idea. I am cheese obsessed and this could be a fabulous snack idea for me!
I also love this recipe. Hope you do not mind, I am going to give it to a few friends.
I can't wait to try it .
Totally inspired. I WILL be trying this. I haven't seen the cheddar babybels, but I live not that far from you, so they must have it here and now I know to look for it.
Looks amazing Roni! I can't seem to find either cheddar cheeses though. I can only find the originsl.I probably need to hit up another store. I really want to just eat this with a spoon. :0)
In the Bay Area (California) I have yet to see either of those cheeses (Babybel Cheddar or Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle) and I feel like we have tons of options here! I just found the Laughing Cow Blue Cheese here for the first time at Trader Joe's last week.
Anyhoo, I love your idea, and will try to find something comparable here in the meantime..but until then, I WAIT! 🙂
I too loved easy cheese growing up and I will admit that I squirted in straight into my mouth on more than one occasion. Cannot wait to try this!
Squeezy cheese directly in the mouth was the only way to go. Then I'd take the bite of a cracker.
Darn lactose intolerance. This looks like a magnificent substitute.
Ok this is your best idea yet!! so simple and looks so good! I have this thing with orange fake cheese, I love it and it's something I crave every now and then. I LOVE this idea!! now I won't feel guilty : )
OMG - you're brilliant! 🙂
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHEN YOU GO PICTURE HAPPY! It makes reading the recipe WAY more fun! I love the ending when you showed each item dipped!
I also happen to love the "idea" to make your own nachoy sauce!
:O)
Absolutely helps! Thanks so much!
(Lucky girl, if I don't plan my sodium for the day (which this recipe could easily fit in) then you might as well rope me off and fly me in the Macy's Parade!
😉
Thanks for the tip I will def try that and let you know how it comes out
Uhhh...YUM! Easy, delicious and cheesey-I'm in! Thanks for the idea!
It may work on the stovetop but I haven't tried it. Maybe put all 3 ingredients in a small sauce pot over low heat. I'd probably cube or grate the round.
Let us know if you try it and as soon as I get my hands on more cheddar I'll try it as well.
hey that looks good and i would love to try it...Im trying to find healthy snacks...but dont have a microwave?? would it be the same on the stovetop
Oh wow. This will work great for me! My family is BIG on nacho's ... and has them more than I'd like. I could make this instead. I love laughing cow cheese. May use celery to dip in this =o
Oooh, that looks amazing!
Sodium isn't normally on my radar but I looked up because I was curious. I'm getting 380mg for the entire recipe.
Hope that helps!
Yum!!
Looks AMAZING! Can't wait to try it. I wonder how much the sodium is in that. I hear some no salt blue tortilla chips calling my name! 🙂