haley jane: twice baked potatoes.

Alternately titled: I'm suffering from major blogger's block!

I've been trying to decide what to post...couldn't think of anything. So I'm posting how to make what I made for dinner last night. (This is one of my Mom's old recipes.)

First preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Then wash and dry 4 large potatoes; pierce the skins with a fork.
Brush potatoes with cooking oil (I used canola oil).
Bake in oven, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until soft.

Slice open the potatoes, scoop out the 'insides'.
(Leave a little bit of potato to help the skin keep its shape.)

Lay empty potato skins aside on baking sheet. (Hint: You'll need them later!)

Then, put potato insides into mixer along with...

1tsp. garlic powder
1tsp. black ground pepper
1tsp. salt
1tsp. chili powder
1tsp. Lawry's seasoning salt
1tsp. onion powder

...and whatever other seasonings you want to put in.

(Note: Adjust seasoning to your taste! I don't put so much chili powder in or as much onion powder.)

Also add 4 to 6 tablespoons of butter.

Add in 1 8 oz. container of sour cream.
(I used a little less than half of the 24 oz. :D)

Then mix together.

Finally, add the best two ingredients...
1/2 lb. of fried up, chopped up bacon...
(Not sure exactly how many slices I used, but it was defiantly not a half a pound!)

...1 8 oz. package of the cheese of your choice!
(I used Colby & Monterey Jack. Also I leave some for sprinkling on top towards the end :D)

Now mix it again with all the spices, potatoes, and butter.

Then, taste test...(give some to your sister too, she'll tell you if it tastes good or bad)...and tweak your seasonings and other ingredients, mixing.

(Note: Above, she's making that face because it's cold -- NOT because it tasted bad!)

When you get it just right, using a large spoon, put mixture into empty potato skins.

Bake the potatoes again (hence the 'twice baked' thing) at 400 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes. (Mine were done before that, so watch them!)