Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Name: Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

• Active Time: 70 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Yield: Makes 12 Servings

Ingredients:

• 6 large Russet Baking Potatoes
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper to taste
• 12 oz. medium or mild cheddar cheese (about 3 cups)
• Season salt
• 8-10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 6 green onions, chopped (chives work also)
• 1 recipe Ranch Dressing, recipe follows

Ranch Dressing

• 1 heaping Tbsp ranch seasoning mix
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup milk

You will also need:

• oven, mixing bowl, baking sheet, mixing bowl, potato masher

Preparation:

• Wash and scrub potatoes, poke each one several times with a fork. Place in oven and bake 400 degrees for 65-70 minutes, or until soft when squished (I don't ever preheat the oven, I don't think it's necessary).
• Remove baked potatoes from oven (reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees), slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out flesh into a large mixing bowl, leaving about 1/4 inch of flesh so potato maintains it's shape. Place potato skins on a baking sheet.
• Add butter to hot potato flesh in mixing bowl and mash potatoes with a potato masher until no longer chunky. Add in cream, sour cream, salt and pepper and beat potato mixture with an electric mixer until potatoes are smooth and fluffy about 2 - 3 minutes (Note: if you like your potatoes any thinner just add a little bit of milk a few tablespoons at a time to reach desired consistency).
• Fill potato skins with mashed potatoes and smooth out tops with a spoon. Sprinkle filled potatoes with cheddar cheese. Sprinkle each potato with about 1/8 tsp season salt (you could do more or less to your taste) and fresh ground pepper to taste. Bake filled potatoes for 15 - 20 minutes (depending on how gooey or crisp you like your cheese).
• Remove from oven, sprinkle potatoes with crumbled bacon and chopped green onions, and drizzle with ranch dressing. Serve immediately.

Ranch Dressing

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, mix well. Cover and let rest in refrigerator 1 hour.