Scrumptiously Cream Cheesed and Marbled!

My husband and I have the following conversation once every week:

"BTW, I invited them over," he says.

*Drat!* "We'll be serving dinner?," I say.

"Not dinner. Something light. With coffee."

"What does that mean, something 'light'?"

"You know...".

"No! Is that phone call really important right now--"

Grr.. Over the years I have developed an intense love-hate relationship with this conversation. I hate it as it gives me reason to be nervous, but I love it because the get-together eventually always turns out to be successful. I can get what you're wondering: The vague instructions make me nervous, of course. It is absolutely essential that you have your list of Top Three on-the-go sweet and (three) savory items. After doing the lemon flan to death, I recently replaced it with yummy Cream Cheese Marble Brownies on my sweets list. I discovered this recipe in a book called Cake Mix Magic (Favorite Brand Name) 




You will need:

1. 1 packet of your favourite Fudge Brownies mix
2. I package Philadelphia Cream Cheese
3. 1/4 (Or 1/3) cup sugar
4. 1/2 tsp Vanilla Essence
5. 1 egg
6. 1/2 to 1 cup Chocolate Chips

You will do:

1. Mix the brownie mixture as recommended on the packet and spread in 13x9in baking dish.
2. In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour over the brownie mixture and draw swirls to your heart's content. Actually till it looks prettily marbled.
3. Sprinkle the chocolate chips.   
4. It will take around 40 minutes at 180C/350F to bake in the oven. 
5. You can use the tooth pick method to see if its cooked. The cream cheese will remain gooey but should be slightly tanned and firm when the brownies are ready. 
6. Cool on wire rack.

Voila! These are very easy to make and are zazzy enough to be served to your friends and family. Now you can watch 'em disappear. :)