Monday, March 12, 2012

**POTATO SKINS**


7 medium to large potatoes
1 1/2 bag cheddar cheese
1/2 stick butter
1 tablespoon of salt
1/2 cup of very finely chopped onion
500g of bacon-seasoned to your liking
1/2cup of sour cream
1 tablespoon of chives.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees

Slice an onion in half, and finely dice.

Melt butter in a saucepan, but do not allow to brown. Using scissors, finely cut bacon. Sauté bacon in melted butter with onion.

Cut the potatoes in half. Take a spoon and "carve" the potato out. It is much easier to do it this way than to cook them and then scoop (they will fall apart.)

Brush the inside of the potato with butter. Bake in the oven until you can stick a fork in them. Remove from oven.(appx 30-45min or until tender)

Sprinkle potatoes with salt. Add cheese to your liking. Mix onions and bacon together.

Add onion and bacon mixture to each potato. Return to oven until cheese is melted.

Add sour cream and sprinkle chives over the top.

Makes 14 potato skins.

**Bacon is optional

**BROCCOLI BITES**




1kg package of frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained of liquid

1 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese

3 eggs

1 cup of seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.

With your hands, form small patties and lay on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake at 180degrees for 25 minutes, turning the patties after the first 15 minutes.

Allow to cool & serve as side dish with grilled chicken/soup.