Cabin Potatoes

Is anyone having cabin fever yet?  Whip up these Cabin Potatoes, a real comfort food, to hopefully cure that cabin fever.  After all, Spring IS just around the corner well, maybe the next corner :)....I have noticed the days are getting longer.  I mean it's 5:07 p.m. and it's still light outside.  Yippee, I'm excited about that!

6 T. butter, softened & divided

6 baking potatoes

salt & pepper to taste

1 c. milk

1/2 c. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. ricotta cheese

8 oz. bacon bits, divided

3 green onions, chopped & divided

1 t. garlic powder

pepper to taste

optional:  shredded cheddar cheese

Use one tablespoon butter to coat potatoes; lightly sprinkle with salt & pepper.  Bake at 350* for 1 1/2 hours.  Cut potatoes in half and scoop out potato pulp, creating shells about 1/4" thick.  Return potato shells to baking sheet; set aside.  In a bowl, add milk to potato pulp.  Beat with electric mixer on low speed until fairly smooth.  Add cheeses, remaining butter, half of bacon bits, half of green onions, garlic powder and pepper.  Mix well until blended.  Spoon mixture back into potato shells, forming mounds.  Top potatoes evenly with remaining bacon bits and onions.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese, if desired.  Bake at 350* for about 15 minutes, until heated through and golden on top.