Serious Potato Skins Food

POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Lightly grease outside of potatoes, cut small slit in top and bake at 425 degrees F for 45 minute or until soft. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.
• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out cooked potato, leaving a very thin layer of potato. (Save cooked potato for mashed potatoes or hash browns.)
• Brush outside and inside of skins with melted butter. Sprinkle inside with steak seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
• Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until crisp and bubbly.
• Fill with cheddar cheese and bacon. Bake 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of chives.
• Variation: Twice Baked Potato Fingers Bake 3 large (about 5-inch) potatoes for 1 hour; cool. Cut in half lengthwise, and then lengthwise in half again, making 12 long fingers. Scoop out and proceed as above.

SERIOUS POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub the potatoes lightly with olive oil and bake them on a foil-lined baking sheet until their skins are crisp and a fork easily slides into their flesh, about 1 hour. Transfer the potatoes to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, assemble the toppings. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, then transfer to a small bowl. Reserve the bacon fat. Grate the cheese into a small bowl; you should have about 2 cups. Trim and thinly slice the scallions. (Feeling frisky? Caramelize some onions. Shred some ham or grate some Gruyère.)
• Using an oven mitt or a folded kitchen towel to handle the hot potatoes, cut each into quarters lengthwise to create four wedges. Using a small spoon, scoop the flesh from each wedge, leaving 1/4 inch or more of the flesh. (Save the scooped potatoes for another use, like potato pancakes or soup.)
• Set the oven to broil. Return the wedges to the foil-lined baking sheet. Paint a bit of bacon fat on each, then top with cheese and bacon. Place under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling. Place the skins on a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon a teaspoon or so of sour cream on each and scatter the scallions over the plate. Serve with hot sauce.

POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Wash the potatoes and pierce them all over with a fork. Rub them with the oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the potatoes from the oven and halve lengthwise. Set aside to cool for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, turn on the broiler.
• While the broiler is heating, using kitchen shears, cut the bacon into small pieces. Cook in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 10 minutes. Drain on a paper towel?lined plate and set aside.
• When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and save it for another use. Brush the insides of the skins with the melted butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on the baking sheet and broil until the skins begin to crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the skins over and broil for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and fill each potato skin with the cheese and bacon. Put back under the broiler until the cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and top with a dollop of sour cream and a few pieces of scallion.

SUPER POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cut potatoes lengthwise in half; scoop out centers, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. (Reserve centers for another use.) Cut shells crosswise in half.
• Place shells, skin-sides down, on baking sheet; brush insides of shells lightly with oil. Bake 15 min. or until golden brown.
• Microwave CHEEZ WHIZ in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 3 min., stirring after 1-1/2 min. Spoon into potato shells; top with remaining ingredients.

RESTAURANT-STYLE POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains.
• Heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C) in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan. Place the potatoes in hot oil, fry for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes on paper towels.
• Fill the potato shells with cheese and bacon bits. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream.

RESTAURANT-STYLE POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains.
• Heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C) in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan. Place the potatoes in hot oil, fry for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes on paper towels.
• Fill the potato shells with cheese and bacon bits and sprinkle with green onions. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream.

SAVORY POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Scrub potatoes; pierce several times with a fork. Place on a greased baking sheet; bake until tender, 1-1-1/4 hours. Cool slightly., Cut each potato lengthwise in half. Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4-in.-thick shells (save pulp for another use)., Cut each half shell lengthwise into quarters; return to baking sheet. Brush insides with butter. Mix seasonings; sprinkle over butter., Broil 4-5 in. from heat until golden brown, 5-8 minutes. If desired, mix sour cream and chives and serve with potato skins.