More creamy comfort food

I received this recipe in a recipe exchange a while ago, and after I finished cringing at all the high-fat, high-sodium ingredients, thought I'd give it a go. My husband looked at me like I had grown a third arm because this is not something I would usually make, but he ended up loving it. If you and your family are fans of potato casseroles, try my lightened version:

Before:
Glorified Hash Browns: Serves 10; Warm oven to 350

2- 10 3/4 oz each cans condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
2- 8 oz each cartons spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
1- 2 # pkg frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Combine soup & cream cheese & microwave 3-4 minutes on high, stirring occasionally till cream cheese is melted. Add potatoes & stir till coated. Spoon into a greased 13" X 9" X 2" baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35- 40 minutes or till potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese & bake 3-5 minutes longer till cheese is melted.


The proportion of creamy stuff to potatoes is way off in this recipe. It would turn out more like chowder than hash brown casserole if made as written. Do you want to eat straight cream cheese or do you want potatoes? Cut down the soup to 1 can, and use a low fat, reduced sodium version. Increase the potatoes to about 3# and use canned diced potatoes that have been rinsed. If using frozen, you can't get rid of any of the sodium, and you may end up with a brand that has been pre-fried if you aren't careful!

I've said it before, but cream cheese is a waste of digestion. Hardly anything nutritious to be found, just fat (saturated, at that). Swap half the cream cheese for reduced-fat ricotta, which  has a decent amount of protein and calcium, and you'll also cut out about 450 total calories. For the other half, use 1/3 less fat cream cheese, then add your own dried onions and chives (about 1T each). You'll save another 100 calories, and you get to keep the flavor.

Use only 2 oz of cheddar cheese on top, and use a deeper casserole dish so that it still covers the top- it's just there to make it look delicious, it's not a main flavor of the dish.

After:
 Glorified Hash Browns: Serves 10; Warm oven to 350

1- 10 3/4 oz can condensed cream of celery soup (Campbell's Healthy Request), undiluted
1- 8 oz package 1/3 less fat cream cheese
3# canned diced potatoes, drained and rinsed (about 4 -15oz cans)
2 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese


Combine soup, ricotta and cream cheese & microwave 3-4 minutes on high, stirring occasionally till cream cheese is melted. Add potatoes & stir till coated. Spoon into a casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20  minutes or until bubbling. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese & bake 3-5 minutes longer till cheese is melted.