Ingredients

  • 6 large idaho baking potatoes, scrubbed
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 12 cup diced sweet onion (e.g. Vidalia or Maui)
  • 14 cup diced mild green pepper (e.g. Bell)
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
  • 14 cup diced ham (Smithfield recommended)
  • 23 cup room temperature cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 23 cup packed baby spinach leaves
  • 23 cup chopped artichoke heart
  • 14 cup crumbled blue cheese (e.g. Roquefort)
  • 14 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 14 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • With a sharp paring knife, make an X-shaped incision on the top of each potato.
  • Place potatoes in the oven and bake 1 hour or until tender.
  • Remove potatoes from the oven, and allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile, in a saute pan oven medium-low heat, melt the butter, add the onion, mild pepper and Jalapenos and cook gently for approximately 4 minutes or until onions are translucent.
  • Stir in ham and cook an additional minute.
  • Remove pan from heat and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sour cream.
  • Set aside.
  • Cut an oval in the top of each cooled potato; remove this portion of skin, and reserve.
  • Scoop flesh out of potatoes, leaving a layer of flesh on the bottom and sides to make sure potato holds its shape; set aside.
  • Chop the reserved potato skin, and mix with scooped-out potato flesh.
  • Stir potato mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
  • Add the sauted onion mixture, spinach leaves, artichoke hearts, bleu and parmesan cheeses, salt and pepper to the bowl, and stir until blended, using your hands if necessary.
  • Pack potato filling into the reserved skins, mounding filling on top.
  • At this point, the potatoes can be covered and refrigerated overnight, if desired.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Return potatoes to the oven, and bake for about 25 minutes, or slightly longer if using chilled potatoes, until golden bown.