Cheesy Bacon Artichoke Party Dip

Ok, so I have no pictures of this and made it quite awhile ago but it was really too good not to share. This was made right at the beginning of the downfall of my camera so the actual pictures made it look like just a big bowl of orange-tinted dip.

Wait, scratch that. That description is NOT going to make you want to eat this. If you want to see pics of the real thing head over to Our Sweet Life, where this is originally from. This dip was REALLY good and fairly easy to prepare. It has the creaminess of the cheeses, the saltiness of the bacon, and the extra added flavor of the artichokes.

I did not top my dip with the Ritz crackers as directed below; and instead served them alongside. There was so much going on with the dip already that I felt it didn't need the crushed crackers on top. Make this for your Super Bowl party!

Cheesy Bacon Artichoke Party Dip
from Our Sweet Life
Makes a 1 1/2 quart dish

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayo
1 1/4 cup shredded pepper jack cheese or Monterey Jack
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
4-5 finely chopped green onions
10 pieces of bacon
1 6.5-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped, dried with paper towels
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
black pepper, to taste
a pinch of cayenne pepper
Ritz Crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread a piece of foil over a cookie sheet, place the bacon on the cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp but not burnt. Remove cooked bacon to a plate covered in paper towel and cover with more paper towel to remove as much grease as possible. Let cool then crumble/ chop into bits for use in the dip.

Using a hand mixer blend the cream cheese and mayo until smooth. Add the shredded cheeses, onions, bacon, artichoke, garlic, cayenne and pepper. Stir all with a spatula or the hand mixer until well combined.

Spread in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish and top generously with crushed Ritz crackers, if using.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with crackers or bread.