Easy Cheesy Twice Baked Potato Halves with Real California Milk cheeses

My first taste of twice baked potato halves was in a pizza store. It was one of those love at first bite kind of things, but I suddenly had this nostalgic craving for it while we're in #ECQ. And I am sharing my recipe for Easy Cheesy Twice Baked Potato Halves with Real California Milk Cheese!

Why do I LOVE Cheesy Twice Baked Potato Halves:

• Potatoes, Butter and cheese are healthier than you think. But as always, it has to be in moderation. :D
• Bacon.
• While I love fries, sometimes I really just want a cheesy mashed potato, and this gives me the crisp of fries and the cheesy mashed potato cravings in one bite.
• Have you ever had potato + butter + cheese + bacon + sour cream + chives? That explosion of flavor in your mouth is much like the adrenaline rush of riding rollercoasters. But in food form. Guaranteed YUMMMMM moment there.

I've personally been using Real California Milk cheeses in my kitchen because out of most premium cheese options in our grocery, they are the most affordable at only 156-180 Php per block of 190g. Others are usually priced at over 400 Php per 200g, and the best part is that the quality of Real California Milk cheeses are as good or even better than the ones priced at 400 Php! List of stores carrying Real California Milk Cheeses are below this post. While I use this to make quick grilled cheese sandwiches, here's a more fulfilling recipe for you.

These Cheesy Twice baked potatoes are great if you want to spice up your potatoes and skip the fries for merienda! I've also got alternate steps in case you don't have an oven.

Ingredients for EASY Twice Baked Potato Halves

• Real California Milk Cheese in Cheddar and Colby Jack
• 5-7 Potatoes
• a handful of Bacon (or more!)
• chopped Green Onions
• Salt and Pepper for seasoning
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter
• Any Flavorless oil for coating (canola or vegetable oil) 
• Sour Cream or Ranch Dressing for Dipping

How to cook the Easy Cheesy Twice Baked Potatoes:

 I've illustrated the steps on how to make these below.

1.  Wash your potatoes. Add in your oil, and sprinkle some salt and pepper on the potatoes. Make sure they're well coated. Better if you can punch holes in the potatoes before adding the oil so they won't be slippery- unlike what I did LOL.
2. Once the potatoes are oiled, punctured and well seasoned, put them in your baking tray and bake them in the oven. TEMP: 200 degrees celsius  for 50 minutes to 1 hour. *If you have no oven, you can chuck them in the microwave, and finish cooking on the stove. I'll put the alternate method below.
3. While the potatoes are baking, cook your bacon. Personally I like it extra crispy but you can also have it a little chewy if you want.
4. Once the potatoes are done baking, let them cool for around 10-15 mins. or until you can handle the hot stuff. Slice in halves. Carve out the potatoes and carefully scoop the potato flesh out of the skins and onto a bowl.
5. Grate your Real California Milk Cheese- I used Colby Jack and Cheddar but you can also use monterey Jack or mozzarella.
6. Add in all the cheese in your potatoes. Mix it with half of your bacon, the melted butter, the chopped green onions and mash like crazy, I used a plastic spatula normally for getting rice.
7. Put back that filling you made in your cooked potato skins and place them back on the baking tray. 
8. Top with more cheese and more bacon for extra yum factor. Much like the photo below.
9. Bake them again in the oven for 180 degrees celsius for 10-15 mins. Keep an eye on the potatoes, you don't want burned cheese okay? :D
   

A little factoid about cheese is that it has a LOT of vitamins and minerals that can definitely help boost our immune system especially during these times!

No Oven? No Problem! 

Take note that these might have a slightly different texture than if you bake them in an actual oven, but they'll still be really good.

• You can bake the potatoes instead inside a microwave. Wash and poke the potatoes plenty. Place your potatoes in a flat and large microwave safe bowl or plate. Cook on high for 5 minutes. Grab an oven mitt or towel afterwards and turn the potato and cook again for another 5 mins., depending on the size of the potato. You can only cook two potatoes at a time using this method. If you're going for say 5 potatoes, adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Once you have scooped, mixed and filled your potatoes, you can finish this in the stove. Grab a NON STICK flat pan, turn the temperature to medium or medium-low heat and add a very thin coat of oil on the pan. You're not totally frying this so it has to be almost non existent, just enough so that you can get the potatoes easily later.
• place 2 or 3 halves of potato at a time, cook for 10 minutes with a lid on. After 10 minutes, lower the temperature so you can easily add in your extra grated cheese and bacon on top, put back the lid and cook on medium-low for another 5 mins.

And to finish everything off, you can dip this in some sour cream or ranch dressing for that sweet, cheesy and tangy explosion in your mouth snacks! You can add your own variants to this too, like adding red pepper flakes for a spice kick.

Hope you're doing alright today and that this recipe gives you a smile when you try it out! Comment if you have tried it, if you are planning to try this recipe or if you have any other cheese recipe recommendations that we can try with Real California Milk Cheese!

List of stores carrying Real California Milk Cheeses and other products:

S&R Membership Shopping 

• California Sunshine Milk 
• California Cheeses 
• Glen Oaks Yogurt Drink

Rustans Supermarket

• California Cheeses
• Glen Oaks Yogurt Drink
• Coolhaus Ice Cream

California Cheeses:
Robinsons Supermarket
Landmark Supermarket
Landers Superstore
Unimart Supermarket
SM Hypermarket
SM Supermarket
Merkado
Makati Supermarket
Cash & Carry
Sourdough Café + Deli

*California Cheeses are also available at select branches of Puregold Price Club, Savemore Supermarket, All Day Supermarket and South Supermarket.