Fake Fried Garlic Fries

Vegetarians often get the short end of the stick when it comes to eating out.  Don’t get me wrong, I do love a mediteranean pita and pasta with marinara. I really do. I grew up on this food.  But sometimes, I just want a hearty (veggie)burger and fries. I eat veggie burgers a lot; you can make them in unimaginable quantities and, when not in the mood to cook (admittedly, this is not often), eat them with bread or without, but what I rarely eat, what I haven’t eaten in many years, are french fries.

French fries are just not the kind of thing anyone in my family would make.  It was a strange thing even to consider making them.  Then it seemed too oily to consider frying, or even baking them.  I remembered the potato chip disaster where all my thinly sliced potatoes cooked unevenly and left very little edible substance in relation to all of my work.  It seemed like a hassle. But who am I if not up for a hassle? The potatoes sent by my lovely CSA this week were a little small, but seemed happy to become french fries.

Of course we can make french fries not drenched in oil!  Of course we can bake them!  And, of course, they’re going to taste better than any fast food french fry imaginable. Mother Rimmy sure liked them! They were featured as her healthy cooks club recipe of the week!

It can be done folks. Give this recipe a try, you’ll like it!

Fake Fried Garlic Fries

• 1 lb potatoes (chef’s choice!)
• 5 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste

1. Slice potatoes into 1/4″ wide sticks and toss with 1/2 tbsp olive oil.
2. Sautee garlic in 1 tbsp garlic.
3. Bake at 400 on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for about 20 minutes (or until browned) flipping frequently.
4. Toss garlic and oil with potatoes; add salt and pepper to taste.
5. Enjoy!