Bombs Away

While some foods are timeless (pot roast), others are really tied to a specific time period when they first became popular. Think of fondue. If you don’t automatically think of the 1970’s, you are too young to have lived in them.

Another of those is potato skins. While potatoes have had skins since the land under Idaho was being formed, it really wasn’t until the sixties and seventies that the idea to offer them independent of the whole potato on the menu. For most of us, we didn’t see skins on the menu until at least the early 80’s.

The skin of the potato is often cited as being chock full of vitamins and good to eat, but so often the version you find in restaurants are loaded with cheese, bacon and sour cream. In other words, cholesterol bombs!

In my own version, I followed the bar food tradition. So bombs away!

What a great combination of flavors.

I decided to throw a few fried onions on top too.

Scooping out the potatoes.

Baking up the skins.

Awesomeness!

Basic Potato Skins

Cook Time: 1 h 30 m | Makes: 16 skins

Ingredients:

• 8 (3-inch-long) russet potatoes (about 2 1/4 pounds), scrubbed and thoroughly dried
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), melted
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)
• 5 to 6 slices cooked, crumbled bacon
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle.

2. Pierce each potato several times with a fork or sharp knife. Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake until the skins are crisp and a knife easily pierces the potatoes, about 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Set the oven to broil.

3. Slice each potato in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh, leaving about 1/4 inch intact; reserve the flesh for another use. Brush the insides of the potatoes with the melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Flip the potatoes over, brush the skin sides with butter, and season with salt and pepper. Evenly space the potato halves skin-side up on a baking sheet and broil until the butter foams and the skins start to crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes (keep a close watch so they don’t burn). Flip the potato halves over and broil until the top edges just start to brown, about 2 to 3 minutes more.

4. Evenly fill each skin with cheese and crumbled bacon. Place in the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the broiler and top each with 1 teaspoon of the sour cream and a sprinkling of the chives. Serve immediately.

Source: http://www.chow.com/recipes/29404-basic-potato-skins