Preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes to remove all dirt and then rinse and dry thoroughly. Poke several holes into each potato with a fork and then place them on a baking sheet.
Drizzle each potato with oil and sprinkle each potato generously with salt. Rub with your hands to coat and then place in the oven.
Bake for about an hour, until fork tender. The potatoes should be crisp on the outside and tender inside.
Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle. Slice the top off of each potato (about ¾ of the way up) and scoop out most of the potato center. Be sure to leave a thin wall of potato along each skin to keep the potatoes sturdy.
Place the removed potato portions into a large bowl. Then, add the butter, milk, half of the cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mash together and taste the potatoes. Adjust the salt and/or pepper, then set aside.
Filling Instructions:
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