Stuffed Bleu Cheese Potatoes

4 medium baking potatoes
½ Cup sour cream
1 oz (1/4 cup) crumbled bleu cheese
¼ Cup milk or buttermilk
4 Tbs real butter, cut into chunks
¾ tsp salt
Dash pepper
½ t garlic powder
8 pieces bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
Grated cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and dry potatoes. Rub them lightly with a bit of shortening or vegetable oil (helps crisp the skin) and place directly on oven rack, or a cookie sheet. Bake for one hour or until potatoes are done.

2. Remove potatoes and let cool just a bit. Cut an opening on the top and hollow out each potato, OR cut each potato in half (as shown in photos) to make 8 servings. You may want to hold them with a potholder as they will still be hot!

3. Scoop out the insides and place in a bowl. Mash, and add butter, sour cream, bleu cheese, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic. Beat with a hand mixer until fluffy. Carefully spoon mixture back into potato shells. Place in a baking dish.
Return to hot oven and bake for 12-15 minutes.

4. Remove and sprinkle bacon and cheddar cheese over each potato

~www.ourbestbites.com

Red Potato Bake

4 cups red potato diced and boiled
2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups sour cream
2 cups cheddar cheese
2 tsp salt
2 tbls dried chives
4 well beaten eggs

Place ingredients in 9X13 dish and bake @ 350 for 1 hour or more if you like them crispier.

Baked Potato Soup

1 TBSP butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 TBSP flour
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth
4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. dried basil
dash Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 cup half & half

Garnish with:
grated cheese
sour cream
crumbled bacon
chopped green onions

Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan on medium heat. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the onions and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often. Gradually add chicken broth. Add potatoes, salt, white and black pepper, basil, Tabasco and garlic salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Stir in half & half; heat through. Serve with garnishes. Serves 4, but doubles easily.

*I like to serve this in individual size bread bowls (from Panera Bread)