Some time ago, I bought some really chi-chi potato bread; it was soooo good, and you could even see the chunks of potato, skin and all. It was available for just a short time at a local grocery chain (I think the shipment was over-bakes from some expensive bakery, or other).

Anyway, one of my sons just loved it. It was awfully good! So I suggested to him that we try to recreate it in the breadmaker. He was skeptical we would come up with something comparable. But before we got it going, I had a brainwave...what if we made it with ingredients similar to a loaded baked potato (sour cream, bacon, and chives)?

Guess what? It was awesome! I promise you, you will hardly be able to wait, it smelled sooo good while it was baking.

Hope you like it too! And of course, like all bread machine endeavours, it was a cinch.

Loaded Baked Potato Bread
(makes a l.5 pound loaf)

1 1/2 cups white bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat bread flour
3/4 cup mashed potatoes ( I used freshly made garlic smashed potatoes, with skins on, but you could also use 1/2 c. instant mashed potato flakes)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/3 cup sour cream
water, (I used potato water, because I had just made the taters) which combined with sour cream, measures one cup altogether (put the sour cream in a one cup measure, add water to make up the difference)
2 tsp yeast
1/4 cup bacon bits
1/4 cup dehydrated chives

Add ingredients into bread maker in order specified by manufacturer.

I cooked this on the white bread setting, it came out perfectly (no need for whole wheat setting unless your bread is entirely made up of whole grains/whole wheat, IMHO) Check dough for consistency while kneading, ad a bit more flour if required for a firm dough.

Add bacon bits and chives at the beep (or about 5 minutes before final knead is done)

Go outside because you will not be able to control yourself while this is baking! Find a distraction! Don't say I didn't warn you!

cheers!

Carolyn!

(posting from sunny Vancouver, BC. We are grateful to see the sun after WAY TOO MUCH rain, lately!)