I have tried all sorts of spinach artichoke dips, and this one is by far my favorite. It does not have a lot of extra spices, but rather allows the flavor of the various ingredients to shine through. As an impatient chef, I always scoop out a little of the mixture before baking it and warm it up in the microwave. It is not quite as good as baking, but it does give instant gratification. Of course, I make everyone else wait for the baked product. LOL.