Potato Skins

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Using a fork, pierce the cleaned potatoes all over. Place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour.
• Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for 10-15 minutes. Keep the oven on.
• In the meantime, add the diced bacon to a pan and place it over medium heat. Cook until the fat has rendered and the bacon bits are crispy. Transfer the bacon bits to a plate with a slotted spoon and reserve the bacon grease.
• Slice each potato lengthwise into 4 wedges. Carefully scoop out most of the flesh, leaving the skins with a thin layer of potato intact.
• Using a pastry brush, coat both sides of each potato skin with the reserved bacon grease. Season with salt on both sides.
• Arrange the potato skins skin-side up on the rack and return to the oven for 10 minutes. Remove, flip, then sprinkle with most of the cheese, followed by the bacon, and finish with the remaining cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh chives, and serve with sour cream.