4 large baking potatoes
Bake the potatoes in the oven until done. DO NOT bake them in the microwave as this makes the skin too flimsy. Once they are cooked, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the middles, leaving enough around the edges to make a wall. Put the scooped out middles in a mixing bowl and mash them up. Add sour cream, dressing mix, chives, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add 1/2 the cheese and the bacon bits. Mix into the potato mixture. Stuff this back into the potato skins. Bake in a 400° oven about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven and top each potato with more cheese. Serve immediately.
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 Tbsp. chives or parsley
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 pkg. shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon (crumbled) or 1/4 cup Hormel Bacon bits
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2