Make Ahead Twice-Baked Potatoes

I first made these several years ago--they are wonderful to have on hand in the freezer for a simple side dish. You can double or triple the recipe if you want. Feel free to customize these. I like that the recipe is more diet-friendly than most twice-baked potatoes yet still tastes great. (I sometimes freeze them without the cheese since I usually have some grated cheese I on hand that I can sprinkle on last minute--hence the cheese-less potatoes in the picture!)

~from food.com

• 5 pounds baking potatoes
• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• 1 c. skim milk (or low fat), approximate
• 3 ounces fat free or low fat cream cheese
• 2 t. salt
• 1 t. pepper
• 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Wash potatoes and pat dry.
2. Place potatoes, not touching, on a large baking sheet. You may need 2 sheets.
3. Spray potatoes generously with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle outsides with a little salt if desired (I don't always do this). I also prick them a few times with a fork.
4. Bake 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until potatoes "give" when gently squeezed, indicating they are done.
5. In large mixing bowl, add butter, cream cheese, salt and pepper and mix well.
6. With a serrated knife, cut baked potatoes in half lengthwise, being careful to leave skins unbroken.
7. With large spoon, scoop out the inside of potatoes, leaving a thin layer of potato attached to the inside of the skin.Place potato skin shells, skin side down, on the baking sheet used to bake the potatoes.
8. Put scooped out potato in mixing bowl as you remove it and mix to combine with butter mixture, adding skim milk as needed to make potatoes the consistency of slightly stiff mashed potatoes. You may need a little more or less milk to get the final desired consistency.
9. Using the palm of your hand to support the potato shell while filling, spoon and press potato mixture into each half potato shell. Return filled shell to the baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with shredded cheese and pat cheese to make it adhere to the potatoes.
10. TO SERVE IMMEDIATELY: Return baking pan of potatoes to oven and bake about 15-25 minutes until potatoes are hot and cheese is melted.
11. TO FREEZE FOR LATER USE: Cover potatoes with plastic wrap and place baking sheet in freezer, leaving several hours until potatoes are completely frozen.
12. Remove potatoes from freezer and wrap each potato in a resealable plastic sandwich bag.
13. Place wrapped potatoes into one or more gallon resealable freezer bags. Store in freezer for up to 3 months.
15. TO COOK FROZEN POTATOES: Preheat oven to 350°F.
16. Place potatoes on baking sheet and loosely cover with aluminum foil. Bake about 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or more until potatoes are hot. Do not over bake. This method helps keep the potato skins firm and crisp.
17. If time is short, place potatoes in microwave and cook on high about 10 minutes. Remove and then place in 350°F oven to finish cooking.
18. IN A BIG HURRY: These potatoes can be completely heated from frozen state in the microwave, heating them just until they are hot. Potato skins will be softer than if cooked in the oven.
19. OR, they can be defrosted in the microwave and reheated, uncovered, in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until hot.