TWICED BAKED POTATOES RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prick each potato with a fork, 3-4 times. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until tender when pressed. Let rest until cool enough to handle. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees. Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the bacon and sour cream. With a sharp knife, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scrape out the flesh of the potato and add it to the the mixing bowl, being careful not to tear the skin. (Leave a thin layer of potato intact all over the skin so that the filling has some support). Place the potato skins on a baking sheet. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes into the butter, bacon and sour cream. Add 1 cup of cheese, milk, seasoned salt, ¾’s of the green onions and black pepper. Mix well to combine.  Fill the potato shells evenly with the mashed potato mixture. Divide the remaining 1 cup of cheese evenly over top of each potato piece. Bake the potatoes once again until golden brown on top and heated through, about 20 minutes. Top evenly with the remaining scallions and a little more black pepper before serving.

Steps:

• Position racks in the top and middle of the oven, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Take the butter out of the refrigerator to soften. Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry. Poke holes all over them with a fork. In a large bowl, toss them with the oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place the potatoes directly on the top rack, and place a baking sheet or a piece of foil on the middle rack to catch drips. Bake for about 1 hour, until the skin is crisp and potatoes offer no resistance when a knife is inserted in their centers. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.
• Slice the top third lengthwise off the potatoes. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving 1/4-inch border of potato on the skin, and transfer the flesh to a medium bowl. Scrape the potato tops of all flesh, and add the flesh to the bowl. Place the bottoms on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (Snack on the tops — chef's treat — or discard.)
• Mash the potato flesh with a fork or potato masher. Add the butter, and stir until smooth (try not to overwork). Add the milk, sour cream and cheese and stir to combine. (If you want the filling softer, add more milk.) Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives, if using.
• Mound each potato skin with a quarter of the filling. Bake the potatoes until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.