ANNIE'S RATING: 3 stars
TOTAL COOKING & PREP TIME: about 1 to 2 hrs
SERVINGS: 4
WHAT'S NEEDED:
- 4 large russet potatoes, each about 3/4 pound each, scrubbed and dried
- 2 to 4 TBSPs unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 scallion, finely chopped
- Ground nutmeg (NOTE A)
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- 4 pcs bacon (NOTE B)
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the potatoes directly on the rack in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Pierce each potato in a couple spots (top, bottom, sides) with a fork and continue to bake until tender, about 30 minutes more.
- While waiting for the potatoes to cook, fry the bacon strips until they are very, very crispy. Pat the excess oil off the fried bacon with a paper towel. On a saucer or small bowl, crush the bacon strips into little pieces with your hands. (NOTE B)
- Remove potatoes from the oven, and turn the heat down to 375 degrees F.
- Hold the potato with an oven-mit or towel, trim off the top of the potato to make a canoe-like shape. Reserve the tops.
- Carefully scoop out most of the potato (including the canoe-like shape top) into a big bowl. Take care to leave enough potato in the skin so the shells stay together. The skin of canoe-like top is disregarded. (NOTE C)
- Mash the potatoes lightly with fork along with 2 to 4 tablespoons of the butter and sour cream.
- Stir in the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper, to taste. (NOTE D)
- Refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding it slightly.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top of the potato filling. If you want more cheese, create a small well at the center of the potato mixture using a small spoon and then place cheese in it, as much as you want. (NOTE E)
- On top of the cheese, sprinkle over the scallions and bacon bits. (NOTE D)
- Set the potatoes on a baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
- (A) The original recipe recommends the addition of nutmeg; I'd say it's a must! :-D
- (B) This is my personal addition to the recipe.
- (C) The original recipe reserved the canoe-like tops and just sprinkled it with salt and pepper before returning it back to the oven. I prefer scooping the potato off the canoe-like top and add it to my potato mixture.
- (D) The original recipe added the scallions at this step. However, I prefer to sprinkle the scallions on top to give option to people (of whether to eat them or not with the potatoes) and for a little pop of green color (i.e., together with the bacon bits).
- (E) I love more cheese so this is what I personally do.