Twice-Baked Potatoes ~ by Sarah

I made these (from my Pioneer Woman cookbook) the other night and they were delish!  Add them to the "very fattening" section of your recipe book!  The recipe makes a huge portion (16 potato halves), so I halved it and we still had some serious leftovers.  (One half is definitely filling.)

Ingredients:
8 baking potatoes, scrubbed clean
canola or vegetable oil
8 slices thick-cut bacon, fried
1/2 pound (two sticks) butter, cut into slices
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. milk
pepper, garlic salt, and seasoned salt, to taste
2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 green onions, sliced

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  With a paper towel, rub the outside of the potatoes with canola oil.  Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked inside and the skins are slightly crisp.  Turn the oven down to 300 degrees.  Dice the fried bacon into bits.  Throw the butter, sour cream, bacon, milk, salt, and pepper into a large bowl.  While the potatoes are still hot, hold each potato in a towel and cut in half lengthwise.  With a large spoon, scrape out the insides into the bowl with the other ingredients.  Repeat until all the potatoes have been scraped.  Reserve the potato shells on a large baking sheet.  Use a potato masher to mix the ingredients together.  Stir in 1 cup of the grated cheese.  Slice the green onions.  Add them to the bowl.  Stir, taste, and adjust the seasonings as necessary.  Fill each potato half with the potato mixture and return to the baking sheet.  Top with the remaining cup of grated cheese.  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are hot.

I know it sounds like they're a lot of work, but they're really not.  And they are worth the effort!