Cooking Light ~ Celebrating birthdays with food

We have several birthdays in our Virtual Supper Club in the month of September . . . so we are celebrating birthdays with food ( is there any other way ? )
I love lemon bars ~ so I searched for this Cooking Light Recipe.

Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars
Crust:

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg

1 cup all-purpose flour

Cooking spray

Filling:
1 cup 1% low-fat cottage cheese
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 large egg white
Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare crust, place first 4 ingredients in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Add 1 cup flour to butter mixture, and beat at low speed until well-blended. Press crust into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

To prepare filling, place cottage cheese in a food processor; process 2 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl once. Add 1 cup granulated sugar and remaining ingredients, and process until well-blended. Pour filling over crust.
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until set (the edges will get lightly browned), and cool. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

Let me just say that cottage cheese is not a good substitute for cream cheese.
I am not sure there is a good substitute for cream cheese. The lemmony flavor wasn't bad... but that cottage cheese texture turned me off.
I saved lots of calories on this dish . . .
Now let's see what everyone else has brought for our  birthday celebration . . .
Jerry is kicking the party off with a Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail
 Val has an appetizer of Shrimp Bouillabaise Fondue 
Giz is bringing dessert, with Peach Ice Cream
This month we don't have a guest blogger ~ give a shout if you are interested in joining us.
Y'all enjoy~
Sandi