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Community Corner

Give Me A 'P' For Patriots Potato Skins

Catch the football spirit as the Patriots face off against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game with these twice baked potato skins.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Yes, once again the Patriots have won me over. I won't pretend to know the finer points of football, in fact I’ve been caught more than once cheering at the wrong plays, (quite embarrassing!), but I know a “W” when I see one, and Brady and the boys have been racking them up!

As New England enters into this weekend's AFC Championship battle against rivals The Baltimore Ravens, Patriot Nation is stoked: This game is going to be a BIG one.

I have to admit I wasn't ‘all in’ at the beginning of this football season. Still bruised and smarting from the debacle that was the 2012 Red Sox, when the Patriots didn't come out swinging right away, I held back a bit and tempered my enthusiasm with a healthy side of skepticism.

As the weeks passed by, The Pats tightened up their game and continually stomped out the competition, setting records and gaining momentum. I couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement

The championship showdown is taking place right in our own backyard at Gillette Stadium, and those lucky enough to score tickets will be making a whole day of it. We will be, too, albeit from the comfort of home.

I love making an event out of these big games, and will plan on putting out lots of "picky things," but our favorite are these stuffed potato skins. So here it is from my kitchen to yours to help with your game-time menu. Enjoy the game, and Go Pats!

Patriots Double Stuffed Potato Skins

6 large baking potatoes
3 T. Butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 8oz package cheddar cheese
1 lb. bacon, baked and chopped into pieces
1 c. Sour cream
1 bunch scallions, for garnish

Preheat oven to 375. Wash and dry potatoes, and set directly on rack in center of the oven for 1 hour. Place bacon on cookie sheet on wire rack, or on broiling pan, and place in oven on lower rack for 20-25 minutes, or until browned and crispy. Remove bacon, set aside to cool, cut or chop into bits for topping.

Once potatoes are cooked through, remove from oven and reset oven to a low broil. Slice potatoes in half. Scoop out some of each potato half into a separate bowl, leaving 1/2 inch of potato inside peel. Add cheese, butter, salt, pepper and half of the bacon bits into to the scooped out potato and mix thoroughly. Load potato skins evenly with this mixture, and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes. Remove when browned, and top with sour cream, bacon bits and chopped scallion.

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