In my family....these are a must have on Thanksgiving!! But, then again I feel like I have said that about every recipe I have posted this week. My family has to have it all....again we are Italian....we like food!!!! My nephew, Anthony, is crazy about these. I am always happy to make these for him especially!!! They are basically an over the top version of a plain old mashed potato. And who wants that. I always love to kick things up to the next level and that's exactly what this is.....the next level!!! They are amazing and if your family is like mine.....make alot....they will fight over them!!! Ummmmm.....Melissa......just saying!!!
TWICE BAKED POTATOES
6 BAKING POTATOES 3 TBLSP BUTTER 1/2 CUP MILK 1/2 CUP SOUR CREAM 1 WHOLE PACKAGE OF BACON COOKED 2 BUNCHES OF SCALLIONS 2 CUPS SHREDDED MEXICAN/CHEDDAR CHEESE SALT & PEPPER OLIVE OIL
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Wash your potatoes well. I like to rub them with a light coating of olive oil and then season them well with salt & pepper. Then lay them on a baking tray and get them into a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or until fork tender.
When they are completely done, let them sit until cool enough to handle. Then you will slice the very top of the potato off lengthwise. But do not discard the tops!! We will be using those.
Now, using a spoon, scoop out the flesh of the potato and get it into a mixing bowl.....
In the mixing bowl with the inside of the potatoes, add in the butter. Season well with salt & pepper. Using a hand mixer, mix well to remove most lumps. Then slowly add the milk while you are mixing. Once that is all mixed well you can add in your sour cream.
Next, chop your bacon into small bits. Also slice your scallions thinly. So you will put half of the bacon and half of the scallions into the mashed potatoes. We will reserve the other half of each for the toppings of the potatoes. You can also add one cup of the shredded cheese into the mashed potatoes again reserving the other half....... Then mix just for a quick second just until combined,
c Lay all of your potato shells....and your tops...on a baking tray. The tops will make the perfect potato skins!!! Fill each shell with the mashed potato mixture to make a great big mound on top. Don't worry you will have plenty for each.
Finally, you can top each shell and each potato top with a nice amount of shredded cheese and then the crumbled bacon...... Go crazy....it's Thanksgiving!!! Th
Bake them at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes and the cheese is all melted.
Top each with the sliced scallions. Serve with extra sour cream on the side. They speak for themselves.....delicious!!!!! Sure to be a hit on your Thanksgiving table....or anytime. They make a great game day snack in our house also!!!!