If you ever want to make a change from the old standard baked potato as your side, here’s a recipe for some yummy, cheesy potatoes that’ll put you in high standing with your friends and family.

(They’re named after our friend Bonita who first introduced them to us — and she’s perfected them over the years.)

Bonita’s Potatoes

6 large baking potatoes
1 lb. bacon any kind (last used hickory smoked)
8-oz. sour cream
1 stick butter
½ lb. fresh grated mild cheddar cheese (not already grated with filler)
1 bunch green onions finely chopped just to dark green part
½ tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

Boil potatoes
Crunch cooked bacon
Grate cheese
Chop onions and sauté in 1-2 T bacon grease 

Drain potatoes
Add to a large bowl with 1 stick butter, crumbled bacon, ½ of cheddar cheese, sour cream, sautéed green onions, salt and pepper.
Whip with hand electric mixer.
Taste and add more of what you like to get the consistency of loaded mashed potatoes.

Top with rest of cheese and put in oven until cheese on top is melted.
(Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min. to rewarm if you ever need to.)
Makes a lot for 8-10 normal people or 6 big guys.

From Sarah in Oregon
Shrimp Appetizer
Makes about 45 pieces

1 Pound Medium Shrimp, peeled and deveined
    (about 45 pieces)
1 lb. Bacon, cut into thirds crosswise
½ tsp. Garlic Powder
Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

Pre-heat broiler in oven.  Sprinkle shrimp with garlic
powder, salt and pepper.  Wrap each shrimp in one-third
of a piece of bacon.  Arrange shrimp on a broiler pan, and
broil 3 to 4 inches away from broiler element.  Watch
carefully, and turn shrimp over when bacon begins to
sizzle.  Continue to turn shrimp as it cooks, for about
8 to 10 minutes.  Bacon should be crisp and shrimp
should be opaque and easy to cut with a fork.  Serve
on picks.

From Paul in Colorado
Mint and Hazelnut Pesto
Makes about ¾ – 1 Cup Pesto

1 C. (Packed) Fresh Mint Leaves
½ C. Toasted Hazelnuts
½ C. Olive Oil
¼ C. Fresh Lemon Juice
3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and crushed
1 tsp. Black Pepper
1 tsp. Salt

Combine all ingredients, except olive oil, in a food processor or
blender and process until finely chopped.  Turn processor off, and
scrape down mixture from sides of processor bowl.  Turn processor
on, and while its running add the olive oil in a slow stream through
the feed tube, until all oil is incorporated with the mint mixture.
Turn off processor; add additional salt and pepper to taste, if
necessary, before serving.