Trader Joe’s Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

I admit I have seen this Trader Joe’s Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip numerous times while shopping but have never picked it up because I assumed it would be too unhealthy to even bother with. Now, I enjoy chip and vegetable dips … but I typically make my own at home when I’m in the mood for one.  But after seeing this so many times, I figured I’d just check out the nutrition facts … and I was surprised with them, so I put the container into my cart.

This sat in the fridge for a few days until one night my boyfriend and I were going to watch a movie.  So I asked if he’d like some chips (we enjoyed this dip with the Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Kettle Cooked Potato Chips) and dip … so chips and dip is what we had.  Opening the container I was surprised with how thick it was. Most store bought dips, at least the dips in my local grocery store, are on the looser/wetter side. This was moderately thick.  I didn’t see any bacon or cheddar in it … until I dipped a chip into it, then I was rewarded with a surprise. Thinly sliced shredded cheddar cheese run all throughout the dip, while there are pieces of bacon throughout it as well. It’s tasty with all flavor combinations working together. You get the ranch, you get the cheddar and you get the smokiness from the bacon.  It’s a delicious dip – right up there with my all time favorite Heluva Good bacon horseradish dip.

A 2 tablespoon serving is 90 calories or 2 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite chip dip?

Trader Joe's W Classic Sliced Dry Rubbed All Natural Uncured Bacon

While shopping at Trader Joe’s I finally noticed the line of bacon.  I’ve seen the peppered turkey bacon before but hadn’t purchased it but I was in a different store and the bacon was more eye level than above my head so I started poking around.  I picked up a pack of the W Classic Sliced Dry Rubbed All Natural Uncured Bacon (in other stores it would be known as Wellshire Farms Classic Sliced Dry Rubbed All Natural Uncured Bacon) to have as a meal plus as an addition to a recipe.

I’ve been trying out trying out nitrate free meats to see if I notice any difference in regards to headaches.  So when I saw this bacon had no nitrates or nitrites and had not been preserved I was intrigued.  When I flipped over the pack and checked out the nutrition facts I was pretty much sold.  Plus the ingredients in the bacon are all things that one can read and understand: pork, raw sugar, sea salt and spices. Can’t get much simpler than that!

The bacon itself is delicious.  It’s thick, it’s meaty, and it’s mildly salty and just an all around perfect bacon. I have been eating turkey bacon for a while now, simply because I enjoy it and it was less points than regular bacon BUT I’m pretty much sold on this bacon and it will become a staple, repeat purchase for me from here on out.  It’s great on its own, it’s great chopped up and incorporated into a sandwich, it’s great in pasta dishes, and it’s just delicious bacon.

A serving size is 2 pan fried slices.  A serving is 60 calories which translates to 1 points plus values (Yes! 1 points plus for REAL bacon!).

QUESTION:

Have you tried the W (Wellshire Farms) classic sliced dry rubbed all natural uncured bacon?

Ham “Club” Sandwiches

This here is a sandwich I find I sometimes tend to gravitate towards whenever BLT’s are on the menu.  I like protein to pack a punch in my meals and sometimes just 6 slices of ultra-thin turkey bacon isn’t going to do the trick.  I realize club sandwiches typically come with 3 slices of bread, but there is no need for that especially since, if I am really hungry, two sandwiches are more than sustainable.

I purchase the Butterball Ultra-Thin Turkey Bacon which you can have 3 slices of bacon for 1 points plus value.  Usually I have 6 slices of bacon for 2 points plus values, which in my opinion is the best “bang for your buck” turkey bacon on the market.

Each sandwich is 4 points plus values each, two being 8 points plus values.  I do usually add 1 tablespoon of Hellmann’s light mayonnaise into the mix (adding half of it onto each sandwich) making the two sandwiches 9 points plus.  Or if you truly only wanted one you could use one teaspoon of the light mayo and still keep it 4 points plus.

Here’s what I use to assemble my 2 sandwiches (if you only want one sandwich, cut each amount listed in half):

4 slices Light Italian bread, toasted

4 ounces shaved Krakus Polish Imported Ham

6 slices Butterball Ultra-Thin turkey bacon

1 tablespoon Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise

Lettuce

Tomato, sliced

Onion, sliced

These are a home run. They’re delicious, filling and you feel like you’re having something you’d order at a dinner … but in the comfort of your own home.