RECIPES: Darth Vader Taters

For your next Star Wars-themed party, try making these Darth Vader Taters as a delicious appetizer. A variation on Twice-Baked Potatoes, they're easy to make and once you put 'em under the broiler, they kind of look like Anakin after his unfortunate battle with Obi Wan on the volcanic planet of Mustafar. Unlike Extra-Crispy Anakin, however, these Vader Taters are yummy!

INGREDIENTS

1. Medium sized potatoes
2. Package of crumbled bleu cheese
3. Several strips of regular or turkey bacon, sliced into bite-size pieces
4. Package of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
5. Ranch dressing

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Bake your potatoes for 30-40 minutes in the oven at 375F. Poke them once with a fork to ventilate.

Step 2: Take your potatoes out of the oven, slice them in half (carefully, as they're still hot!) and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Mash the insides with a fork or use a mixer.

Step 3: Fry up your bacon, drain the excess grease off, and slice with cooking scissors into 1/2" slices.

Step 4: Mix the bacon and bleu cheese (with a ratio of 1.5 slices of bacon per potato and 2 heaping tsp. of bleu cheese crumbles per potato) in with the mashed potatoes.

Step 5: Spoon the mixture back into each half of the potatoes.

Step 6: Sprinkle your sharp cheddar cheese over each potato half.

Step 7: Put them under the broiler for a few minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly... Like Anakin's skin.

Step 8: Either drizzle your Vader Taters with a bit of light Ranch Dressing or serve it on the side for dipping. May the Force be with you!!