Shrimp Stuffed Potatoes

One word: divine. I altered a recipe from Cooking with Paula Deen (January 2010) and combined it with one of my own, Stuffed Baked Potatoes. Paula and I both love cooking with butta' so you know this is bound to be a good one, y'all! Definitely a "splurge" dinner :)

Ingredients
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
3 medium baking potatoes
Olive oil
¼ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
¼ cup milk
¼ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix
1 tablespoon green onions, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 slices bacon, cooked
Salt & pepper
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Spicy Shrimp

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on)

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup butter

¼ cup minced green onions

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ cup chicken broth


Preheat oven to 400°. Wash potatoes; rub with salt and a touch of olive oil. With fork, pierce potatoes 5-6 times in different places around the potato. Place on baking sheet and cook for 1 hour or until tender. Remove and reduce heat to 375°.  Let potatoes cool for 10-15 minutes. 

While potatoes are cooling, chop green onions and prepare garlic (enough for both the potatoes and shrimp). FYI: you can always use bottled minced garlic if you don't keep fresh on hand - 1 teaspoon = 1 clove. Also, here's a helpful tutorial on garlic...usually a must-have ingredient for me!

Cut each potato in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp leaving a thin shell.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the pulp with butter. Add in milk, cream, ranch mix, and garlic; beat until well blended. Stir in green onions, cheese and bacon. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon into potato shells. Bake for 20 minutes.

While potatoes are baking, combine shrimp, flour, red pepper flakes and salt. Set aside.

In large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add remaining green onions and garlic; cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly.

Add shrimp mixture; cook for 2 minutes or until shrimp are no longer pink.  Add broth; cook for 3 minutes or until mixture is thickened.

Serve shrimp over stuffed potatoes; add some greens as a side if you need a little something extra.

Let a gal know if you make this one..I have a feeling you will agree that it is a melt-in-your-mouth delicious recipe! Also, if you need a dish to use your leftover ranch dressing mix in I've got an idea!