Twice Baked Potatoes With Caramelized Shallots Food

TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

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.

TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Rub them with the canola oil and bake for 1 hour, making sure they're sufficiently cooked through.
• Slice the butter into pats. Place in a large mixing bowl and add the bacon bits and sour cream. Remove the potatoes from the oven. Lower the heat to 350 degrees F.
• With a sharp knife, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scrape out the insides into the mixing bowl, being careful not to tear the shell. Leave a small rim of potato intact for support. Lay the hollowed out potato shells on a baking sheet.
• Smash the potatoes into the butter, bacon and sour cream. Add the cheese, milk, seasoned salt, green onions and black pepper to taste and mix together well. (IMPORTANT: If you plan to freeze the twice-baked potatoes, do NOT add the green onions.)
• Fill the potato shells with the filling. I like to fill the shells so they look abundant and heaping. Top each potato with a little more grated cheese and pop 'em in the oven until the potato is warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes.

ULTIMATE TWICE BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
• Bake for another 15 minutes.

TWICE-BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; set aside.
• Place sweet potatoes on oven rack. Bake 1 hour or until soft. Cool potatoes 20 to 30 minute before handling. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out flesh into large bowl; reserve potato skins on cookie sheet. Add Parmesan and sage to potato flesh; stir to combine.
• Heat 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Add shallot; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shallot begins to brown. Add 1 tablespoon of the broth; stir vigorously. Cover; cook 2 minutes. Uncover; add remaining tablespoon broth. Cover; cook 2 minutes longer.
• Add shallot to potato mixture; stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide mixture evenly among potato skins.
• Bake 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and sage leaves.

TWICE-BAKED POTATO CUPS WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Pierce potatoes in several places with fork, then brush lightly with oil. Place potatoes directly on oven rack and bake until tender when pierced with fork, about 55 minutes. Cool potatoes slightly.
• Cut off thin slice from both short ends of each potato and discard. Cut each potato crosswise in half; stand each half on its small flat end. Using teaspoon, scoop out cooked potato pulp from each half, leaving 1/3-inch-thick shell and forming potato cup. Place potato cups in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place potato pulp in medium bowl; add cheese, sour cream, milk, and cayenne. Using potato masher or fork, mash until well blended and almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mound mashed potato mixture in potato cups.
• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender and deep brown, about 12 minutes. Top potato cups with shallots. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake potato cups until heated through, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

MASHED POTATOES WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Generously butter a 4-quart baking dish. Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the shallots until they are slightly golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Drain the potatoes in a large colander. Place them back in the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in the other ingredients. Turn off the heat and add 1 1/2 sticks butter, the cream cheese, heavy cream, seasoned salt, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Mash to combine.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread three-quarters of the shallots in the bottom of the baking dish. Scoop the mashed potatoes on top and spread them over the shallots. Sprinkle the remaining shallots on top of the potatoes.
• Cut the remaining 1/2 stick butter into pieces and sprinkle over the potatoes. Bake until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• The potatoes can be made a day ahead through the end of step 4; cover and refrigerate. Before serving, dot with butter and bake for an hour.

CARAMELIZED-SHALLOT MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add sliced shallots and cook until tender and brown, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Transfer shallots to small bowl. Add milk to skillet. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, place quartered potatoes in large saucepan. Add enough cold water to pan to cover potatoes by 1 1/2 inches. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to pan and stir over medium heat until dry, about 1 minute. Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Bring milk in skillet to simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Add hot milk to potatoes. Mash potatoes. Stir in caramelized shallots and season to taste with salt and pepper.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Melt 3 tbsp of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat; add shallots. Cook, stiffing frequently, 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and tender.
• Heat oven to 375°F; grease a 3-quart casserole with remaining 1 tbsp of the butter.
• Thinly slice peeled potatoes.
• Place potatoes in a large bowl with shallots, thyme, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Place potatoes in casserole.
• Heat cream in small saucepan until it just comes to a simmer. Pour hot cream over potato mixture. Bake 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle cheese over top and bake 20 more minutes or until potatoes are fork tender and top of casserole is brown and crusty.

ROASTED POTATOES AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in lowest position.
• Toss shallots with 1 1/2 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a 13-by 9-inch baking pan, spreading evenly.
• Roast, stirring occasionally, until shallots are golden, about 30 minutes.
• Toss potatoes with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl, then add to shallots.
• Roast, turning occasionally, until vegetables are tender and potatoes are crusty, 40 to 50 minutes.