Twice Baked Potato Cups With Caramelized Shallots Recipes

TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Position racks in the top and middle of the oven, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Take the butter out of the refrigerator to soften. Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry. Poke holes all over them with a fork. In a large bowl, toss them with the oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place the potatoes directly on the top rack, and place a baking sheet or a piece of foil on the middle rack to catch drips. Bake for about 1 hour, until the skin is crisp and potatoes offer no resistance when a knife is inserted in their centers. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.
• Slice the top third lengthwise off the potatoes. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, leaving 1/4-inch border of potato on the skin, and transfer the flesh to a medium bowl. Scrape the potato tops of all flesh, and add the flesh to the bowl. Place the bottoms on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (Snack on the tops - chef's treat - or discard.)
• Mash the potato flesh with a fork or potato masher. Add the butter, and stir until smooth (try not to overwork). Add the milk, sour cream and cheese and stir to combine. (If you want the filling softer, add more milk.) Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives, if using.
• Mound each potato skin with a quarter of the filling. Bake the potatoes until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

TWICE-BAKED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• These small potato cups (each one is half a russet potato) are a great choice if you're short on oven space. The potatoes can be baked and stuffed one day ahead and chilled, then warmed in the oven for 20 minutes while the turkey rests before carving.
• Preheat oven to 400°F Pierce potatoes in several places with fork, then brush lightly with oil. Place potatoes directly on oven rack and bake until tender when pierced with fork, about 55 minutes. Cool potatoes slightly.
• Cut off thin slice from both short ends of each potato and discard. Cut each potato crosswise in half; stand each half on its small flat end. Using teaspoon, scoop out cooked potato pulp from each half, leaving 1/3-inch-thick shell and forming potato cup. Place potato cups in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place potato pulp in medium bowl; add cheese, sour cream, milk, and cayenne. Using potato masher or fork, mash until well blended and almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mound mashed potato mixture in potato cups.
• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender and deep brown, about 12 minutes. Top potato cups with shallots. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F Bake potato cups until heated through, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

TWICE-BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; set aside.
• Place sweet potatoes on oven rack. Bake 1 hour or until soft. Cool potatoes 20 to 30 minute before handling. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out flesh into large bowl; reserve potato skins on cookie sheet. Add Parmesan and sage to potato flesh; stir to combine.
• Heat 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Add shallot; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shallot begins to brown. Add 1 tablespoon of the broth; stir vigorously. Cover; cook 2 minutes. Uncover; add remaining tablespoon broth. Cover; cook 2 minutes longer.
• Add shallot to potato mixture; stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide mixture evenly among potato skins.
• Bake 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and sage leaves.

ULTIMATE TWICE BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
• Bake for another 15 minutes.