Twice-Baked Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon

These are a lot of work. They are really good, but a lot of work. For a small gathering, they are worth it. Pick your cheese of choice for the filling - we've done a couple different ones and haven't been disappointed yet.

Ingredients:

4    russet potatoes (7 to 8 ounces each), scrubbed, dried, and rubbed lightly with vegetable oil

8   strips  bacon , cut cross-wise into 1/4-inch pieces

4    ounces  cheese of your choice (Pepperjack and cheddar both work well) , shredded  (about 1 cup)

1/2    cup  sour cream

1/2    cup  buttermilk

2    tablespoons  unsalted butter , room temperature

3    medium scallions , white and green parts sliced thin (about 1/2 cup)

1/2  teaspoon  table salt

Ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake potatoes on foil-lined baking sheet until skin is crisp and deep brown and skewer easily pierces flesh, about 1 hour.
2.  Setting baking sheet aside, transfer potatoes to wire rack and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
3. Fry bacon in medium skillet over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove bacon to paper towel-lined plate to drain; set aside.
4. Using an oven mitt or folded kitchen towel to handle hot potatoes, cut each potato in half so that blunt sides will rest on work surface. Using a small dinner spoon, scoop flesh from each half into medium bowl, leaving a 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thickness of flesh in each shell. Arrange shells on lined sheet and return to oven until dry and slightly crisped, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mash potato flesh with fork until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients, including bacon and pepper to taste, until well combined.
5. Remove shells from oven and increase oven setting to broil. Holding shells steady on pan with oven mitt or towel-protected hand, spoon mixture into crisped shells, mounding slightly at the center, and return to oven. Broil until spotty brown and crisp on top, 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes:

• Serves 6-8