Restaurant-Style Potato Skins

I worked at Ruby Tuesdays for many years and this is how they made em'. Great Football food or snack with a movie. I always have to make more when I make them for Football parties because they are gobbled up quickly.

• Ready In: 37 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8  potatoes
• 1 1⁄3 cups  vegetable oil
• 11  ounces  shredded cheddar cheese
• 3  tablespoons bacon bits (I use the Hormel kind in a jar)
• 16  ounces sour cream
• 2  green onions, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains.
4. Heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C) in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan. Place the potatoes in hot oil, fry for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes on paper towels.
5. Fill the potato shells with cheese and bacon bits and sprinkle with green onions. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan.
6. Bake for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream.