These twice baked potatoes were the perfect accompaniment to my fancy shamcy Valentine's Day dinner over the weekend. I served steamed green beans and strip steak cooked perfectly to medium rare and these gems. Since the steak and green beans were anything but fancy....the addition of this potato side dish really jazzed up the meal and made it special. The best part of this side dish, is that most of the work is done ahead of time.
The potatoes are baked ahead of time, cooled long enough to handle, then cut in half. The pulp is scooped out and cheese, Greek yogurt, turkey bacon bits and green onions are added to the pulp, which is then spooned back into the potato shell and then topped with more cheese and a sprinkle of paprika for color. They are flavorful and creamy and we loved them!
I used shredded reduced fat Swiss cheese in and to top these potatoes..but you can use whatever reduced fat cheese you like. Cheddar or Colby would be awesome too! If you don't have the laughing cow cheese on hand, you could substitute reduced fat cream cheese, for about the same calories..but a bit more fat.
Lightened Up Twice-Baked Potatoes
from the kitchen of MKA
Servings - 8 Serving size - 1 twice baked potato ( 1 cut half of a whole potato with filling) Points Plus per serving - 3 Points+
Calories - 125.1, Total Fat - 1.9g, Carb. - 19.3g, Protein - 7.8g, Fiber - 1.9g
4 medium russet potatoes ( 2 1/4" - 3 1/4" diameter ) , scrubbed
1/2 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt
2 wedges of Light Creamy Swiss Laughing Cow Cheese
2 TBS. Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Bits
2 green onions ( whites and greens), chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
fat free half and half, if needed to thin out potato mixture ( optional )
1 cup reduced fat cheese ( Swiss, cheddar, colby...your choice), divided
sprinkle of paprika
1. Poke each potato with a fork and wrap in foil ( to help keep skin soft so it's easier to cut). Bake in oven ( 350 degrees F ) until they are soft.
2. Allow potatoes too cool enough to handle. Unwrap a potato and slice down middle longways. With spoon, scoop out insides leaving about a 1/8" potato in skin all around. Place scooped out potato in large bowl. Set "potato shell" on baking sheet lined with foil. Repeat with all potatoes. Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. To the scooped out potato in the bowl, add the Greek yogurt and Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges. With electric mixer, whip until fluffy. You might need to add a bit of fat free half and half or skim milk at this point to thin them out enough to fluff...maybe not. Depends on the potato. Stir in the turkey bacon bits, green onion, and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper,to taste.
4. Spoon mixture evenly into the 8 potato shell halves. Top with remaining shredded cheese and sprinkle with paprika.
5. At this point you can cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate until you are ready to bake them or you can bake them right away. Set oven at 350 degrees F. Place potatoes uncovered in oven and bake until heated through and cheese is melted, about 30 min for refrigerated potatoes and about 15 minutes for unrefrigerated ones.
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Because this recipe makes 8, we had leftovers which will definitely be part of my lunch today! I'm excited about that....cheese....what's not to love? lol
Winter made an appearance over the weekend...much to my dismay. But I do have to keep reminding myself it is only FEBRUARY after all. One good thing about the snow is that I can take the dog for a walk in the woods, as the ground is covered and not muddy right now. I hate winter, but I do love walking through the woods in the winter time...so peaceful and siren. Really beautiful. How about you? Do you like to walk outside in the winter?
Om gosh...those potatoes look ridiculous good! Liking the greek yogurt in there. I walk in the winter here but it doesnt get too bad here!!
ReplyDeleteI need to find those turkey bacon bits. Genius!
ReplyDeletePINNED! It's like you are reading my mind. I was just debating lightening up this crowd pleaser for an upcoming party. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteYum! They look so good I can't even tell they were lightened up. Hope you have a great Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteI've never thought to use Swiss...but oh my yum! And the flavors in Swiss go perfectly with paprika...YUM! This looks wonderful, Renee! P.S. I am posting the lemon orzo soup recipe this week. It was great the night we had it but the leftovers were even better! SOOOO good!
ReplyDeleteI used Swiss, because I wanted to use it up but it was really perfect in the potato! who knew? lol and I am so glad you enjoyed the soup...yes, I loved it too..I need to make it again...soon! :)
DeleteHoly Moly those spuds look amazing! They are going on my to try pile! I just got potatoes back on my food plan - yippe!
ReplyDeleteOf course we don't get snow here but our winter is mostly rainy - sometimes I like to go out and walk in the rain and breathe in the fresh clean air.
A walk in the woods sounds wonderful to me!
These look yummy and I like that they're light! I'll be trying these soon.
ReplyDelete-Lynn
I made these today and blogged about them. They're delicious! I was surprised how it did not taste like sour cream was missing because of the yogurt!
ReplyDeleteHi Renee,
ReplyDeleteThese looks so delicious and very healthy! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
These look really good! I love laughing cow cheese.. and I love walking outside, no matter the season! I just don't like walking where it is icy!
ReplyDelete