Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

{originally published in 2017 and updated in 2022}

The twists on deviled eggs are endless. I whipped up these bacon ranch deviled eggs the first time for a holiday party. The hostess has a revolving door of party-goers, kiddos, and lots of food. I thought it’d be best to bring a ready-to-eat item. The ideal app for a busy party is one that needs nothing from the host and no oven-reheating time! We’ve had them a few more times and they’re always a hit.

I had all the ingredients on hand which is even better annnnd you can prep these in advance or in stages.

The Three Bite Rule - Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

6 eggs
3 strips of bacon
1/4 cup mayo
2 tbs yellow mustard
2 tbs ranch dressing
1/2 packet ranch dressing mix

Directions:

Boil water for the eggs and cook for 12 minutes. Then allow them to cool and peal them.
Pan fry the bacon until crisp. Then remove and drain.
Slice eggs in half, carefully popping the yolks into a food processor or a bowl. Then add in mayo, mustard, ranch, ranch mix, and half the bacon.

The Three Bite Rule - Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

Blend in the food processor until totally mixed (or use a hand mixer).
Open a zip top bag into a cup to stabilize it. Spoon the yolk mixture into the bag.

The Three Bite Rule - Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

Store the filling in the bag, then when serving, snip one bottom corner and fill each egg half.
Top with the remaining bacon.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs


I looooved these. They are always gone quickly at a party or are just fun at home. The bacon on top makes for no surprises (esp since these are type of eggs are normally vegetarian).

November 2022 Recap

November was a bit of a blur. It wasn’t a busy month in the kitchen. One week was a doozy and we just needed some space, time, and grace with ourselves. We said goodbye to our beloved dog and it was hard. Thus, here we are.

My blog turned 12! Wow. It is a tween! I like to set some new goals/intentions and decide my fav kitchen moments from the past year.

Cheers! I made a pear & cucumber cocktail that was delightfully crisp and with just a touch of fall.

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

This spinach strata was so good for breakfast and lunch.

The Three Bite Rule - Spinach Strata

December is coming right up- wow. The Christmas season for us is really fun so I’m trying to soak it all up and love the parts were in. It is very much time to switch gears in my brain. Bring on the hot chocolate and we’ll see what cooking looks like this month. I’m guessing we’ll host Christmas Eve for appetizers (partly because we like those, and partly because kids don’t have to sit as long).

The little girl:
She totally gets cold so I’m curious how much she’ll love winter this year. I love how how much wonder she has for all the Halloween candy – even opening a tootsie roll has her astounded for what comes out. She loves playing hot or cold for where she is in relation to something. Both kids ate so well at a restaurant for breakfast and it was her first time! She and I are going to see a Nutcracker performance and I cannot wait.

The big guy:
He is very into drawing and coloring right now. I love it. He likes coloring pages we print that are very ‘of the moment’ for a character or theme we’ve just read/watched/etc. The games the two of them come up with very much amuse me – there was something with sliding figurines and hitting them away like hockey that happened the other night and seemed mutually agreed upon. Soccer wrapped up and we love the flexibility and unscheduled weekends.

Goals:
Year of workwear! I got a sweater-ish/tunic-ish/mock-turtle top in a dark cranberry color
Salads or side-dishes: I made a cold buffalo chicken pasta salad with shredded chicken this time, for a very pack-able lunch.
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: The strata!
Monthly dates: We had Mexican at El Centro
Declutter/cleaning: I have a big drop of donations to make – let’s see if it rides around with me in Nov or hitting Dec. Both kids went through their art and were done with a good chunk of it.
Workouts as a routine: I’m a bit more routinely doing some dance & weight workouts.
What I’m reading: I read Why Didn’t You Tell Me which was an interesting look at identity/race/lineage/birth order/gender. Bookclub did a YA this time with You Should See Me in a Crown which was so cute and fresh – esp for those of us very far from highschool. I read Killers of a Certain Age which was Italian Job meets Golden Girls and was very fun, not the best ever but amusing.

Spinach Strata

This spinach strata has a shortcut to pack a flavor punch – creamed spinach gives this so much a salty creaminess and keeps the ingredient list quite short. I made it as I would a bread pudding so while strata means layers, mine didn’t have to soak as long and came together so quickly. 

The Three Bite Rule - Spinach Strata

It poofs up like a souffle and then settles a bit. It is less eggy than a lot of breakfasts which was nice for variety. I loved it reheated too. I intended it to be a ready-made, savory breakfast but I needed a handheld one for en route to the bus stop. This became lunch and I was not mad about it. I microwaved on low (try a defrost or reheat setting) and thank me later. 

Spinach Strata
Ingredients: (for ~6 servings)

1 loaf bread (Italian or focaccia or sourdough)
1 package creamed spinach
3-4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
salt & pepper
1-2 cups fresh greens (I used baby arugula)
1/2-3/4 cup shredded cheese
3 tablespoons parmesan 

Directions: 
Slice and cube the bread – let it sit out for a few hours to get stale. 
Warm the creamed spinach according to the package. Then stir and cool. 

The Three Bite Rule - Spinach Strata

Mix up the eggs, milk, mustard, salt and pepper – go gentle on the salt since the creamed spinach will likely provide enough salt. 
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray a 9×9 baking dish. 
Gently mix together the bread cubes, creamed spinach, egg mixture, and fresh greens. Ensure it is all evenly coated. 

The Three Bite Rule - Spinach Strata

Spoon half into the baking dish, add a sprinkle of each cheese, top with remaining bread mix and finish with the remaining cheeses. 

The Three Bite Rule - Spinach Strata

Bake ~40 minutes. 
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Spinach Strata

Let me declare my love for creamed spinach as an ingredient as we never eat it as a side- I love it mixed into pasta to be a sauce, or in a calzone for some cheesiness, or into the ricotta mixture for stuffed shells or lasagna. Also, since it lives in the freezer, that makes it very handy. The salt content is up there, but that is usually based on 2-3 servings and I often use it as ~6 servings. 

12th Blogaversary

This hobby continues to hold a spot in my heart and I’m grateful for this outlet. Thanks for following along and telling me what you’ve made! On this occasion each year, I award some superlatives and set out some goals for the year to come.

Most photogenic: Salmon Cakes over Lemon Risotto

The Three Bite Rule - Salmon Cake & Lemon Risotto

Most Likely to Succeed: Bacon Parmesan Burger

The Three Bite Rule - Birthday Burger with Bacon Jam & Parmesan Peppercorn

Most Likely to be Repeated: Savory Loaded Waffle

The Three Bite Rule - Savory Waffle

Most liked on Insta: Strawberry Basil Lemonade Cocktail

Strawberry Lemonade & Basil Cocktail - The Three Bite Rule

So, how’d the goals go:
Year of nail polish! Choosing some new ones inspired me to dump a few I’ve had since college cough:pre-2006:cough.
More international food: went ok, it’s a good area to expand
More soups/salads: I don’t recall many new soups – I should stay on that
More apps: Apps for dinner is such a fun way to make a special and beloved dinner
More fun drinks: I went pretty hard on tea and made more cocktails!
Updating photos: I did a few and will keep this on my radar.
What I’m reading: I read 42 books this year!

What’s ahead:
Year of the _____: it’s going to be workwear! My new job is dressier and I’m in the office 3x a week so I know I need to update and cycle out some old things I don’t love.
Salads or side-dishes
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays
Monthly dates
Back to some routine of workouts

Pear & Cucumber Cocktails

These cocktails are so delightfully fall – the pear is unexpected and the cucumber makes it light and fresh. These would pair so well with any of the fall foods – I liked the cool and freshness since it has been so unseasonably warm here lately.

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

Mix these to order for a group and there are a bunch of options for a twist. The simple syrup + ginger ale would make it lovely without alcohol – always have a fun non-alcoholic offering. Skip the vodka and swap with champagne for a lovely morning or pre-dinner cocktail for another great option.

Pear & Cucumber Cocktail:
Ingredients:

1/2 ripe pear
2-3 tablespoons simple syrup
1/4 cup water
ice
a few slices of cucumber
1 oz vodka

Directions:
In a small pot, bring pear, sugar, and water to a simmer for 5-10 minutes. Then let cool and strain (if desired).

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

Shake together ice, vodka, pear simple syrup, and a few slices of cucumber.

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

Pour into a glass over ice, then top with ginger ale (or soda water) and a cucumber slice or two.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Pear & Cucumber Cocktail

I loved it. The pear + cucumber + ginger ale is gentle but all those flavors are distinct. It isn’t all that fruity or herby and I looove the bubbles. How perfect would these be in flutes with champagne?