Twice-Baked, Double-Stuffed Potatoes and Caesar Salad

Twice-Baked, Double-Stuffed Potatoes 

and Caesar Salad 

Many of my friends have told me over the years how much they love potatoes. I love potatoes, too, and always have a bag on hand.  There are lots of ways to prepare potatoes, but not many methods can beat baked potatoes.  And taking baked potatoes another step, twice-baked potatoes are an excellent variation to plain baked potatoes.  And, taking another step beyond that, "Twice-Baked, Double-Stuffed Potatoes," is an even more decadent variation. 

After this recipe, I've included the original Caesar Salad recipe and some information about the history of the salad. (By the way, it is NOT named for Julius Caesar)

Twice-Baked, Double-Stuffed Potatoes

• 4 large potatoes
• Extra-Light Virgin Olive Oil
• 4 tbsp. butter - melted
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup cream cheese - softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese - shredded
• 1/4 cup Colby-Jack Cheese - Shredded
• 1/2 cup green onions - chopped
• 2 - 3 strips crisp bacon - cooked
• garlic salt and pepper - to taste

Clean the potatoes and place them on a baking sheet.  Rub them with olive oil and season with salt.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 1 hour.  Let stand 10 minutes before preparing.  Reduce the heat of the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the insides.  Place in a bowl and mash.  Add melted butter, sour cream, milk, cheese, and green onion.  Using an electric mixer, combine until the mixture is light and fluffy.  Check the filling for seasoning - add salt and pepper as needed.  Fill a pastry bag with potato mixture and fill each potato half. Add bacon or other topping you like on top of the potato mixture and bake in the 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.


 You can wrap and store the potatoes and potato mixture for future use - or freeze them.  You don't even have to defrost them if they're frozen - just place them in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake until cooked through and golden brown on top.

I found these potato cookbooks on Amazon.  Check them out for more great potato recipes.

 

History of the Caesar Salad

As mentioned above, the caesar salad was NOT named for Julius Caesar, but after Cesare (later Caesar) Cardini. WHO is Caesar Cardini?????

Caesar Cardini was born near Lago Maggiore, Italy, in 1896 -  a 33.5 mile long lake that stretches from SW Switzerland into Italy.  He emigrated to San Diego after WWI.  During Prohibition, he and his brother started a restaurant - Avienda Revoucion - in Tijuana, Mexico so they could serve alcohol.

Caesar created the Caesar salad by necessity.  On a busy Fourth of July in 1924, as supplies began to run low, Caesar created the salad with what he had on hand.  To add style to the salad, he made it "table-side," right at the customer's table. The salad and the way it was made became a hit with the Hollywood set and entered into history.

In 1948, Cardini began selling bottled dressing called, "Cardini's Original Caesar Dressing."  It sold millions. People everywhere heard about the salad and the dressing and wanted to eat at Cardini's restaurant.  In fact, Julia Child, who ate at Cardini's restaurant as a teenager and later as as an adult, contacted Cardini's daughter for the recipe!

The Original Recipe for Caesar Salad

*NOTE: Notice that there are NO anchovies!!!

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese - grated
• 1 lemon
• pepper - to taste
• 5 oz. croutons

Break the lettuce into 2-inch lengths.  Squeeze the lemon over the lettuce to bring out the flavor. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese and pepper. Toss. Add croutons.  Toss and serve.

You can find Cardini salad dressing at this link:

http://www.cardinissaladdressing.com/ 

 You can also find it at Amazon.com - Click on one of the images below and it will take you right to the Amazon website if you want to order it.  The first image is for a 6-pack of 20-ounce bottles. It isn't really $25.29 a bottle!! HA!! There also links below for some of the other Cardini products.   

  Let me know what you think if you try it!