Preheat oven to 400.
Scrub and pat dry potatoes. Slit potatoes lengthwise. Place them directly onto oven rack. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until soft. (Larger potatoes may take longer to cook through.)
When potatoes are cooked, remove from oven and let cool about 10 minutes. Open them up and scoop out the insides. Set the “shells” aside for refilling later.
In a large mixing bowl, mash the potatoes and add butter, milk and sour cream. Mix with spoon or blend with hand mixer. Add spices and stir through. Other mix-in ideas would be chopped bacon pieces, chopped chives, chopped green onions or diced ham.
Scoop “mashed” potatoes back into the “shells”. Sprinkle each potato with shredded cheese.
Bake the potatoes again at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Make dressing . Prepare salad. You whatever toppings you have! The green pepper, cucumber and swiss cheese were what I happened to have in the fridge.
Serve twice baked potato with a side salad.