Classic T G I Friday's Potato Skins

   I love to go to T G I Fridays to eat (and drink their black berry long island ice tea)! One of my favorite items on the menu was the potato skins, they were absolutely delicious! It was to my great disappointment about 6 months ago when I ordered them that I was served these deep fried fancy looking potato wedges that they call "the new and improved potato skins". For the record, they were awful! I was so sad that they tried to improve something that was already perfect. If it's not broke, don't fix it, right? Well, because of this I had to learn to make them myself. I am pleased to let you know that I found the perfect recipe here (it is even called "Copy cat T G I Friday's Potato Skins). It is really easy to make these and they do taste just like the classic from T G I Fridays!

Ingredients:

No I didn't add bananas...

• 4 Russet potatoes
• 1Tbsp Olive Oil
• salt* and pepper (to taste)
• 1 Tbsp melted butter
• 3/4 c. shredded cheddar**
• 1/2 c. chopped crispy bacon***

Instructions:

Hot Potato! Hot Potato!

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Wash, scrub and dry the potatoes.
3.  Pierce each potato several times with a fork.
4. Rub potatoes with olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
5. Bake potatoes for one hour.
6. Take potatoes out of oven, take off baking sheet and allow to cool.
7. Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
8. Cut each potato lengthwise into thirds, reserve the middle slice for something else****
9. Use a spoon (I use a melon baller, they work better) to scoop out the middle of each skin, leaving about 1/4" thickness.
10. Brush the potato skins with the melted butter and bake for 25 minutes or until crisp.
11. Take them out of oven, sprinkle with cheese and bacon bits and bake until cheese is melted (about 5 minutes).
12. Serve hot with sour cream and green onions (optional). Ranch is really good to :)

Cut into thirds

Hollowed Out

TIPS:
*I occasionally use garlic salt instead of regular.
**You can use any kind of cheese that you prefer, I personally like colby jack.
***I use about 4-5 bacon strips and that is plenty. I don't actually measure out my bacon.
****I actually fix the middle sections like I do the skins, the only difference is I don't hollow them out. That works as long as the middle stays in tact, otherwise I just sprinkle with salt and eat :)

Finished product! Just add sour cream and green onions! YUMMY!

REVIEW:
This is a huge hit with my family. They taste just like the classic potato skins tasted. I really wish T G I Fridays would bring these back instead of those sorry excuses they call "new and improved".

I hope you've enjoyed reading and enjoy these delicious appetizers (or main course). To see my other recipes, subscribe to my blog, Pinterest Kitchen Witch. You can also see the hundreds of recipes that I've pinned on various boards, all you have to do is follow me on Pinterest, here. You can also follow individual food boards if you don't want to see my other stuff.

Brightest Blessings!!