Bacon & Spinach Twice Baked Potatoes

   Well, I thought spring was here...but it's not. The sun is out most days, but the temperature is still in the below zero mark! I'm talking -10 with a nasty wind! You step out thinking, "oh, what a sun-shiny terrific day!", and then the snappy wind sweeps up and bites you in the face! Waaaaa! Yes, that was crying. Like a baby. I've started just rubbing coconut oil (organic, virgin) on my face because it was getting so dry and scratchy from the wind! Waaaa! More crying. This morning we woke up to snow, so…..waaaaaa waaaaa! 

     Ok, crying over, I actually like the coconut oil on my face! It smells loverly, and has made my skin reeeeeal soft! 

    Alright. Food time. In April of last year I wrote something called "The Great Potato Debate" and talked about potatoes, and how they are the evil enemy to weight loss and a long and happy life!!! (a slightly overdramatic voice needs to be used when reading that. Possibly even putting a hand to the forehead like a damsel in distress?).

     Well, there are many pros and cons regarding potatoes, but sometimes, they are choice # 1 in my house. Why? Because they are really freakin' affordable, that's why! They are filling, they really do have many nutritious benefits, and they are a humble, blank slate to so many meal ideas!  And THEN they are inexpensive on top of all that? Well, hot-dog, sign me up! All you need to do is load ‘em up with toppings (see the above link for a delicious recipe that I included at the end of the post!) after they come out of the oven, add a side of veggies, and your meal is complete!
 
     When we do baked potatoes as a meal, I’ll switch up what we top them with. If the budget is particularly tight, we’ll just add butter, salt, and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. Other times we’ve made curry, chili, pulled pork, to top them with (separately, of course!) and then there's the ever “classic” baked potato toppings of sour cream, bacon bits, green onion and cheese.
 
      Now, to take a humble baked potato to a new level, someone at some point (who loved mashed potatoes!), thought, “I wish the inside of my baked potato was filled with mashed potatoes! (this account is almost certainly 100% historically accurate!).
 
      Enter the twice baked potato!
 
     Granted, these take a little more work, but you can do the first baking, as well as mash and fill the potatoes ahead of time and then put the lovely stuffed gems into the oven when you need them! You can even fully prepare these up until the final baking, and store them in the freezer! After we had Keziah, a woman from church brought us the most amazing meal, all made ahead and frozen, and one of the super tasty items was twice baked potatoes. They were so delicious! This past weekend I devoured some mini twice baked potatoes that a friend had made for a St. Paddy's day party. She made them all earlier in the week, then froze them until party time! 

     The twice baked potatoes on the menu for today are of the bacon & spinach variety.

      Enjoy! 

     I know the pictures are all golden, cheesy-topped potatoes, and you dairy avoiders are all "I bet these don't taste as good without the cheese!", well, let me assure you they are still absolutely delicious!  

     Ok, I'm signing off! Time to shovel the driveway! Just kidding! I don't need to shovel....because the snow has turned to freezing rain!.....now I'm not kidding. Waaaaaa waaaaa! 

      : )  

      xoxoxo