Dopey as that saying is, it’s the pure truth. Potato bombs really are the ‘bomb.com.” If you’ve never had one, now’s the time.

I first discovered this amazing way to prepare baked potatoes when watching a Youtube video by the BBQ Pit Boys (www.bbqpitboys.com). The focus was grilling rib steak, but they inserted a side note on how to create a spectacular baked spud.

There’s no specific recipe for this dish. It’s limited only to your taste preferences and your imagination. But just think about your favorite way to have a baked potato and go from there.

For you who aren’t acquainted with the process, I’ll describe the method. First, you’ll need:

• As many Russet BAKING potatoes as people you want to feed (these are bigger)

• String cheese—one stick for each potato you’ll prepare

• At least one stick (1/2 cup) of butter

• Chopped chives or green onions (approximately 1 cup; but again, this depends on the number of potatoes you’re preparing)

• Seasonings to taste

• Aluminum Foil

• Sausage (frozen breakfast links); this is totally optional

• Bacon (perhaps 1 pound); this is totally optional

Next, either bring your grill temperature up to 325-350 degrees, or preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Then prepare your bombs:

1. Core the center out of each potato using an apple corer. Reserve the core for later use.

2. Stuff each potato with your preferred ingredients. Start with a sausage link, some chopped green onion or chives, and a cheese stick. If you’re a non-meat-eater, just omit the sausage and add some chopped mushrooms or diced broccoli, for instance.

3. Slice enough from each potato core to plug the openings of each potato. Insert the cores into the ends of each potato.

4. Wrap each potato with strips of bacon. Again, if you’re a non-meat-eater, skip this step. If you do skip this step, coat each potato with butter and sprinkle seasonings of your choice all over the buttered potato. I like either sea or Himalayan salt for this.

5. Place each potato in a large piece of aluminum foil, place a pat of butter in the middle of the foil and place potato on top; wrap tightly.

Now bake your bombs:

1. Either place your potatoes on your preheated grill for 60 to 90 minutes or place them on a sheet pan and bake in your preheated oven for 60 to 90 minutes.

2. The time they grill or bake depends on their size, of course. So be sure to test about half-way through the timing. Use the “squeeze test.” If they yield nicely, you know they’re done baking.

This is truly a delicious way to bake a potato. And for serving, consider topping them with sautéed mushrooms and onions. You might provide sour cream as another garnish. Another flavor compliment would be baked beans alongside the spuds. Or just pair them with a hearty tossed salad for a very complete meal. However you serve your potato bombs, be sure to prepare plenty. Folks are likely to want more than one because these really are the “bomb.com”!

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