Game Day/Night Potato Skins

     

     So tonight's College Football match up between #3 Oregon and #5 Stanford sends us into Football Weekend mode just a bit early. 

      What better occasion to make these Game Day/Night Potato Skins to serve family and friends settling in on this fine fall evening to catch one of the week's most highly anticipated gridiron contests?

Here you go:

     This version is gluten-free and casein-free, but regular ingredients with either can easily be swapped in and out if neither of these food allergies is an issue for you or your guests:

          Potatoes ~ 16 medium, washed

          Butter ~ 2 to 3 tablespoons (I am using Earth Balance Buttery Spread)

          Cheese ~ 1 to 1.5 cups (cheddar or, if casein-free, use a package of Daiya cheddar-style, shredded)

          Bacon ~ 16 ounces of your preferred variety

          Green Onions ~ 1 stalk

     Begin by cooking the bacon, leaving the grease in the large skillet.  Set the bacon aside to blot on paper towels. (I always cook all the bacon to account for household bacon-lovers who slip a few strips while you are not looking.  Plus, I always give one or two to Harley.)
     Preheat the over to 425 degrees.  While heating oven, roll potatoes around in bacon grease, make a small slit on top of each, and set on cookie sheet.  Bake for 45 minutes.
     While baking, wash and chop the green onions and continue to protect bacon.  Set aside onions.
     When potatoes are baked, let cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then slice in half.  Scoop out the potatoes, leaving very little in each half. (Set aside this extra potato in a container to be used for hash browns in the morning or mashed with a dinner later in the week.)
     Melt the butter with a little bit of bacon grease (if desired) in a mug for 30 seconds or so in the microwave.  Using a spoon, pour a little into each of the potato skin "bowls", then sprinkle each with sea salt.  Put back into the oven for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp.
     When ready, take out of oven and sprinkle with cheese of choice.  I generally lay a quarter piece of bacon strip on each, but using bacon bits is also a good way to go.  Top with green onions and put back into oven.
     These house favorites will be ready in less than five minutes.  You can serve with sour cream, salsa, Greek yogurt, or guacomole:)

~ Have a wonderful football weekend~