Loaded Baked Potato

Have I told you all about my love of potatoes? I'll eat a potato in pretty much any form. I don't think you can do anything to a potato that I wouldn't like.

Still, one of the best ways to eat a potato is in its truest form--baked whole. We usually bake up a couple of potatoes as an easy dinner on a fairly regular basis, but just recently realized we hadn't done it in a while. In preparation for a busy weekend and on a night when we didn't have much time for cooking, we decided to bring the good ol' loaded baked potato back into the rotation. And I'm so glad, because I think I had forgotten just how much I love them!

You can vary the toppings based on what you like, but our favorite way to "dress" them is with a little butter/margarine, broccoli, some shredded cheddar, and Bacon Bits.

Whoa, baby.

This is not a complicated "recipe," but I'll include it just the same.

Loaded Baked Potato

Ingredients:
- Russet potatoes
- Broccoli crowns (or frozen broccoli)
- shredded cheddar cheese
- Bacon Bits (or bacon, cooked and crumbled)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Wash potatoes. Pierce potatoes with a fork or knife. Microwave on high for 5-7 minutes, rotating halfway through cook time.

3. Wrap hot potatoes in foil. Place them on the center rack of your oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.

4. Remove potatoes from oven. Remove from foil and place on plate. Cut them down the center, then top with a little butter. Spoon broccoli, cheddar cheese and Bacon Bits on top.