::Warm Potato Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing::

THE ORIGINAL RECIPE CALLED FOR A COLD SALAD. I DISAGREED. IF YOU HAVE A STOMACH FOR BLUE CHEESE, THIS WARM, DELICIOUS SALAD IS A PERFECT BBQ SIDE DISH.

BLUE CHEESE DRESSING:

1/3 cup (75 mL) mayonnaise
¼ cup (50 mL) sour cream
2 tbsp (25 mL) lemon juice
A couple of dashes hot pepper sauce
½ to ¾ cup (125 to 175 mL) crumbled blue cheese,
preferably Danish
2 green onions, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

1. For dressing, whisk mayonnaise with sour cream, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce in a bowl. Stir in ½ cup (125 mL) blue cheese and green onion. Taste and if desired add remaining blue cheese, salt and pepper.

POTATO SALAD:
1½ lbs (750 g) potatoes
3 strips bacon
1 red pepper, cut into ½-inch (1-cm) pieces
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 tbsp (25 mL) lemon juice {optional}

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Peel potatoes if you wish, then cut into bite-size chunks. Toss with olive oil, pepper and salt. Cook for 1 hour, or until done to your taste. {I like them golden and crunchy.}

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Set aside on a paper-towel-lined plate, then crumble. {I pre-chop my bacon into 1 inch chunks. Spread them on a plate. Cover with two paper towels and cook in the microwave for 5 minutes.}

3 Stir dressing with warm potatoes until mixed. A little squeeze of fresh lemon brightens the flavour. Add bacon, red pepper and green onions.