(I’m combining this post with my weekly Thursday Thirteen, if you were just here to see the TT, scroll to the bottom of the post.)
As foodies we are sometimes driven to try the most recent trend in foods. To go after more exotic ingredients and preparation methods. To push our cooking skills and palate’s further than they have ever gone before. All of these are good things and make for a very interesting culinary life. Food should never be boring, after all.
While I subscribe to the concepts mentioned above, there are still times I when just want a really good French Fry, and yesterday was one of those days.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t liked fast food french fries in a very long time. Most are nothing more than overcooked, greasy little processed things that don’t do anything at all for me, other than perhaps cause a case of indigestion later. On the other hand, I rarely turn down the opportunity to indulge in a homemade fry, whether I’m the one making it or not, making fries one of the things I almost never order in a restaurant. I’ll take mine my way, thank you.
I prefer to make fries in a cast iron skillet rather than in a deep pan or heavy dutch oven for several reasons. One, the oil heats much more quickly in a heavy shallow pan. Two, it cools more quickly when the heat is lowered because of greater surface/air ratios. Three, It’s a lot harder to crowd the pan, which allows me to see each and every item that I’m frying while keeping my temperatures constant. Taking out the guess work is a good thing, as it means that you won’t end up with greasy food.
(Read the bottom of the post to see the thirteen things I will almost never order out)
- Potatoes, cut in 8 wedge shaped pieces (Figure 2 per person as a side)
- Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
- Sea Salt
- Garlic Powder
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups vegetable or Peanut Oil for frying.
- Heat oil over medium high heat in a very heavy skillet. (Be sure never to fill the skillet more than 60% of the way full. Oil expands when heated and you don’t want it boiling over!) When oil is just shimmering (Approximately 370°F), add 2 potatoes worth of the potato wedges. Cook over medium to medium high heat for approximately 4 minutes per side, checking often for doneness.
- Remove cooked wedges from oil with a spider or slotted spoon and place on a brown paper bag to drain excess oil. Immediately sprinkle with Sea Salt and Parmesan cheese.
- Continue cooking potatoes in batches. If desired, place the paper bag on a cookie sheet and store wedges in a 200 degree oven in between batches to keep wedges warm.
- Sprinkle over a little more Parmesan after plating. Serve hot and enjoy!
What I would have done differently had I thought of it at the time:
Nuffin. Nuffin at all!
Thirteen Things I (almost) never order in a restaurant
- As this post already attests, French Fries, with the exception of Curly Fries, which are by definition a different animal altogether.)
- Oysters. (Bad experiences have taught me a lesson, I’ll cook my own, thanks)
- Fried Chicken. (My wife’s is perfection, there’s no reason to pay someone for it.)
- Fettuccine Alfredo (Most restaurants just can’t get this dish right for some reason.)
- Macaroni and Cheese (Why in the WORLD would I pay someone 8 bucks For mac and Cheese?)
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (see above… Besides, mine are better)
- 99% of anything labeled “California Style” (Just adding bean sprouts or Avacado does not California make, people!)
- Chili. (Chili is a labor of love, or it should be. If it isn’t, I’m not buyin!)
- Sweet Barbecue. (Shudder!)
- Wings. (I’m not usually a fan of other peoples. There are a few limited exceptions)
- Anything with anchovies. (The exception to this might be at any of Mario Batali’s Restaurants, and does not hold true for Caesar Salads.)
- anything with a warning label! (I’m adventurous, but the thought of a chef having hiccups while slicing blowfish scares the crap out of me!)
- Dessert. (I can’t remember the last time I ordered a dessert, though there must be one somewhere. My wife and I both prefer savory over sweet, so I don’t miss it at all.)
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
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I like this idea for a TT. I wonder what 13 I’d come up with. I’m with you on not spending money for someone to melt cheese on white bread for me…
No Fried Chicken?? Your wife must make some awesome hen. I love my chicken but hate the greasy mess. I agree with most of the others. Have a fun TT
I’m having #8 tonight for dinner [home made…simmering all day] And I agree with you on #s 11, 7, 5 and 2
My 13 this week is just thirteen new headers I made if you’d like to drop by and take one or all. They’re free. lol
I’ll order French fries if they are actually made of potato, not reconstituted corn muck. I’ve never eaten an oyster in my life. I don’t suppose I ever will.
Works for me. I’m pretty much the same on most of these items. Oysters never and for the same reason. Have a great TT. :)
Hommmm…no french fries? I wish I could get mine to taste like some of the ones I’ve tasted at places (namely Ruby Tuesdays) and then? I would probably stop eating them. LOL. Great list. Happy TT!
Amen on the sweet barbeque. Bleah.
The anchovies never made my list, either.
Desserts…nothing like homemade. Even the fanciest seem to have that Costco flavor, anyway.
I don’t order most of those things either, but for different reasons. LOL! I just don’t like them. Except sweet bbq and dessert…I do have a sweet tooth.
Okay… #13… I don’t get at all. I mean, some restaurants, yes, others I love their dessert.
Totally agree about grilled cheese and mac and cheese.
Id have to agree with your list for most things except Fried chicken, French Fries, and California style…other than that, yuck!! Happy TT:)
I love it!
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
we’re in absolute agreement…..except for the sweet bbq sauce *blushes* i have to admit i love it! happy t13!
Great job on the fries.
However, as much as I like my fries “fried”, I won’t deep fry in the house. Same goes for fried chicken. Weather permitting, we prefer both, at home, using the side-burner on the grill and a cast iron skillet.
Otherwise, it’s off to the restaurant for our fix of french fries or fried chicken.
I pretty much agree with the rest of your list though, – especially chili! . . . NO ONE cooks chili as good as ours ;>)
I only order dessert at Cheesecake factory. Because they cheesecakes are to die for. OOOH yummy yummy.
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Cheers!
14. If the menu states that anything (including the restaurant) lists/labels anything as Gourmet.
I could get 8 dollars for my macky cheese.
Biggles
Dr. Biggles
It is quite a coincidence indeed that my beloved house cat’s name is MR. WIGGLES. And he is a gourmet cook in his own right.