QUICK AND EASY POTATO SKINS RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Use potatoes of a fairly even size, as you’re going to cook them whole. Cook in a large pan of boiling salted water for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tender.
  2. Drain and leave until cool enough to handle, then remove the skins.
  3. Mash the potatoes using a potato ricer or masher on to a large clean board.
  4. Sprinkle over the flour, finely grate over half the nutmeg, season well with sea salt and black pepper, then scrunch and push the mixture together with clean hands. Depending on the potatoes, you may need to add a little more flour – use your common sense.
  5. Knead on a flour-dusted surface for a few minutes until pliable, then divide into 4 equal pieces and roll each into a sausage about 2cm thick.
  6. Slice into 3cm lengths – this is your basic gnocchi. Now you can gently roll each piece down a butter pat, the back of a fork or a fine grater to add grooves, which will help your sauce to stick, or simply roll into balls.
  7. Nonna Teresa cooked her gnocchi 2 portions at a time, as it’s so quick, and it also means they’re less likely to break up. Cook in a pan of boiling salted water for 2 to 3 minutes – as soon as they come up to the surface they’re ready.
  8. Remove with a slotted spoon and toss with melted butter and finely grated Parmesan, my Hero tomato sauce (or leftover sauce from a stew, which you can see in the picture), then finely grate over a little Parmesan, to serve. I also like to add a little dollop of pesto – homemade or jarred, it’s up to you.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 415 degrees F (200c/gas mark 6).
• The day (or up to 2 days) before you load them, prick all 10 potatoes, then bake the potatoes until the skins are crisp and the insides floury, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• As soon as you can bear to tackle the hot potatoes, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop the insides into a bowl.
• Put the husk-like skins of the potatoes on a tray and, when cool, cover until you are ready to fill them.
• Let the potato cool in the bowl, and then cover until needed.
• When you are ready to fill the potatoes, preheat the oven to 415 degrees F (200c/ gas mark 6).
• Add 7 ounces (200g) of grated Cheddar to the cold potato along with the sour cream. Finely chop the spring onion and add to the potato, with the salt, pepper, garlic powder and Paprika.
• Spoon the potato filling into the potato skins, and lay each half on a baking tray so they fit snugly together. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, giving each potato skin a light covering, and cook until golden, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Fry the bacon rashers in the oil, or grill them, until crispy. Remove them to a paper towel lined plate and then crumble.
• Sprinkle each potato skin with the bacon to make them fully loaded.