So, I’ve told you about my neighbor Eddie. Now here’s the skinny on the neighbors on the other side.

They like to eat like we do. And now they’re on the Atkins Diet.

So basically that means they only eat steak, beef of any kind, chicken, bacon and various pork products.

At least that’s their interpretation of the diet. Needless to say, they’re having a grand old time with it.

Now that’s my kind of diet!

I don’t know whether they’ve lost any weight on it, but who cares? They’re eating steak, steak and more steak!

Is this a great country or what? 

Stay tuned tomorrow for the lowdown on the neighbors across the street.

Last Friday evening, two days before we had planned a rockin’ steak dinner at home, we were invited to dinner with my husband’s boss and his wife. We were happy to accept; and where did we end up, you may ask?

A steakhouse.

It started the wheels in my mind spinning, comparing the restaurant steak experience to the at-home steak experience.

So here’s my Top 10 List for Why I’d Rather Eat My Steak at Home:

10. No Teriyaki sauce at the restaurant. (My fave.)

9.   Most chefs don’t like to hear “Barely any pink, please.”

8.   Really nice places don’t have bacon bits for my baked potato. 🙁

7.   I can’t bring my favorite chair from my dining room table to the restaurant. It’s really cushy.

6.   You have to tip the waiter. (My husband just asks for a kiss.)

5.   At home, we listen to awesome playlists from our iPods that we pump through the house during our meal. (Most restaurants don’t play old Bobby Brown songs, Merle Haggard and Def Leppard.)

4.   I can’t wear my really stretchy pants to a restaurant.

3.   At a restaurant, I don’t have the luxury of knowing my kids are asleep in their rooms upstairs while I leisurely enjoy my steak.

2.   It’s more expensive at a restaurant and you can get the same quality steaks (even USDA prime) delivered to you from KC Steaks. (Plus, see #6.)

1.   No reservations.

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.