Fun Potato Recipes

I love anything that involves cheese and sour cream, and my husband knows that. Years ago I had bought this cute, cheap cookbook that was full of recipes for couples, and he made me several great meals from it. One of the side dishes were these twice baked potatoes. They're slightly better for you than a microwaved baked potato (check out the glycemic index), but do involve a few extra steps. So if you're looking to impress any guests or your family this coming holiday season, you can try out these twice baked potatoes, or if you're looking for more of an appetizer/finger food try making some potato skins.

For Twice Baked Potatoes you'll need:
2 potatoes
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
2 Tbsp butter
handful of chives
handful of bacon bits

Directions
1 Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2 Bake potato for 1 hour. Remove from oven, slice in half lengthwise, and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
3 Remove the insides and put them in a mixing bowl, trying to keep the skin intact.
4 Mix the potato to smooth and all all other ingredients, saving the potato toppers for last.
5 Add toppers and stir once or twice-enough to spread throughout the mixture without grinding them in.
6 Spoon the mixture back into the potato skins.
7 Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 15 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned.
8 Serve & Enjoy!


For Potato Skins you will need:
4 large baking potatoes
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp pepper
Potato Toppers: bacon bits, shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, and anything else you want

Directions:
1 Scrub potatoes and poke small holes into them.
2 Place in greased pan.
3 Bake in 400 degree oven for approximately one hour (until you can push the fork into the potato, but potato is still really firm).
4 Let potatoes cool for a few minutes.
5 Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out pulp. Leave just enough to keep skin sturdy.
6 Put skins bake onto baking tray, skin side up, and brush skin with oil.
7 Bake in 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, until skins seem to be crispy.
8 Flip skins over and brush insides with oil.
9 Bake at 400 degrees for another 5 minutes.
10 Sprinkle with cheese and leave in oven until cheese is melted.
11 Add all the fun potato skin toppings and enjoy!