Bacon Ranch Spirals

spi·ral [spahy-ruh l] noun

1. Football . the spin on the ball in flight after the quarterback releases it.

It only seemed fitting that this week's recipe should be inspired by the Commodores' much-anticipated season kick-off. Football season is a time for great friends and great fun and of course, great tailgates. But what is a great tailgate without good food and drink? Tailgating basics typically include alcoholic beverages, picnic staples, and meat products. Although the meat products offered in the markets are quite limited, amongst these products is an item more than suitable for a tailgating recipe: bacon. I decided to incorporate bacon into a 5-ingredient appetizer that can be made with ingredients from either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers. Appetizers, in particular finger foods, make for an ideal tailgating food as they are easily transported, not requiring utensils and not cramping your socializing style. Even better, bacon ranch spirals are tasty and relatively inexpensive to make. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, these spirals will cost you $7.78 or $0.19 per spiral. This cost does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt and pepper. Go 'Dores!

Bacon Ranch Spirals:
Yield: 40 spirals
Total Cost: $7.78 (does not include cost of cooking spray, salt and pepper)

• cooking spray
• 4 slices bacon (crisply cooked, crumbled)
• 1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
• 2 oz medium cheddar cheese stick (shredded) 
• salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on a paper towel and allow to cool. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine 4 oz cream cheese with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing. Shred 2 oz cheddar cheese and set aside. Crumble bacon into small pieces and set aside. 

Unroll crescent roll dough. Form dough into 12x8-inch rectangle; press perforations to seal. Slice dough down the middle (parallel to the long side) to form two 12x4-inch rectangles. 

Spread ranch dressing mixture over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle with bacon pieces and shredded cheddar cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Starting with long side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. Place rolls in freezer for 10 minutes to stiffen dough.

Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray. Remove rolls from freezer and cut each roll into 20 pieces, using a serrated knife. Place cut side down on cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and serve warm.

Reviews 

"This tastes like a lot more than $0.19."

"I wish they had a little more filling."

"Can't go wrong with bacon."

"I didn't even know the markets sold these ingredients."