Better Frizzled Onion Rings

Speaking of onion rings as we were last week, here's a recipe for those special skinny little frizzled o-rings from the folks at Better.tv...



Mmmm... onion rings...

And don't worry, we'll be back to the favorite fried food next time!


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Best and Worst?

When I logged into Yahoo! this evening I was pleasantly surprised to see a news story regarding the favorite fried food. And better than that, it was a story about the best and worst French Fries. So cool.

My second thought of course was, "Hey, isn't that my job?

On closer inspection I discovered that the article wasn't really about best and worst fries, but healthiest and unhealthiest fries. Hmmm... I guess as far as they're concerned, taste doesn't even enter into it. Darn Health Nazis.

Check the article out here.

Hip Hop Wendy's

The actual training tape from Wendy’s waaay back in the hip-hop 1980s. Props to The Dark Crystal for hipping me to it.

The Only Thing Better than French Fries?

There was a time when my various medical conditions prevented me from being as intimate with the favorite fried food as I might have wanted to be. For all its glory, and much to the joy of the Health Nazis, the French fry is not necessarily the most healthy food on the planet. When this happened I turned to another fried food, one also made from a much-maligned vegetable, but one I could actually eat at that time - The Onion Ring!

Onion rings aren't really that bad of a second stringer either. And in some cases, like at Friendly's, and especially at Cheeburger Cheeburger, they are much more superior to their French fry counterparts on the menu.

Here's a great recipe for the o-ring from College Candy. Check it out here.


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How to Make Apple Fries

We've talked about apple fries before. Here's a video from Chef Tips on how to make them at home...



Mmmm... they look almost good enough to eat... ;-)


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Gourmet French Fries

Another one from [POTATO-RECIPE], by way of Marla in Las Vegas, the Happy Cooker and Allkindsoffood:

The gourmet's trick to French fries that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside is double-frying them.

6 large potatoes (Idaho or Russet is a good choice)
Oil for deep frying (Vegetable or Peanut)
Ice water (optional)

Cut the potatoes into fries about 3/8" thick. (Thin fries soak up too much oil.) You can peel the potatoes, if you like, but it's not necessary.

Optional: Soak the cut fries in ice water for about 30 minutes. This step removes a lot of the starch, making them less sticky when frying. Pat the soaked fries dry with a paper towel before frying.

In a frying pan or deep fryer, heat the oil to 325°. Fry small batches of the fries for about 3 minutes; they will be softened but not browned. Remove them from the oil and let them rest, or sweat, on paper towels for at least half an hour, up to 2 hours. (A great make-ahead step.)

When you're ready, reheat the oil to 375°. Cook the fries a second time until golden brown, 4-6 minutes. Drain again on paper towels, transfer to a serving dish, and season with one of the gourmet seasoning recipes below while they are still warm and moist.

You're half way there! Seasonings are the second half of gourmet french fry recipes:

Lemon-Parsley Fries: Combine 1 heaping tablespoon each of lemon zest and chopped parsley in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over warm french fries. Salt and pepper to taste.

Red Pepper Fries: Simmer 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper in 1/4 cup olive oil for about 5 minutes. Set aside until ready to use. When the fries are done, remove the crushed red pepper from the oil (unless you're very daring) and drizzle the oil over the french fries. Salt to taste and toss. Option: Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon basil to the oil and simmer with the red pepper.

Truffle Fries: Drizzle 1 tablespoon warmed white truffle oil over fries. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste, and toss.

Garlic Fries Recipe: Lightly sauté 1/2 cup minced garlic in 1/4 cup olive oil . Stir in 1 tablespoon thyme. Drizzle the garlic mixture over warm french fries and toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Option: Sprinkle 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the fries and toss again. Delicious.


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How They Make Potato Chips

Wrapped Around Your Finger

A great way to show that your love and addiction to the favorite fried food has you wrapped around its (your) finger - the French Fries Ring!

Available at Minimania's Etsy Shop.

Warning - the ring is not edible... but still, mmmm... French fries...

French Fry Diary 10: The Frypod

Okay, yeah, I know, the Burger King Frypod is old old news. It's been around for nearly two years, and even though I do have to wonder why the folks at Apple haven't sued the heck out of BK for rifting on their iPod trademark, I still think it's a great idea.

Perfectly formed to fit in the drink holder of your car so you can really (and moderately safely) eat on the go, it was one of the coolest things to happen to to-go fries in years. And for those of you naysayers who are asking where to put your drink - most new cars have at least two drink holders. This practicality is even enough to excuse what BK called, when the Frypod debuted, "Have It Your Way Technology," claiming the Frypod kept the fries hotter. *rolls eyes* Yet to be proven, but the drink holder thing is enough of an innovation.


What I'm here to talk about today is what is printed on the side of the Frypod. It's a vertical checklist with boxes for "Hot" and "Fresh" and "Crispy." My complaint is that these boxes already have X's printed in them. Yes, clever, but what if it's not necessarily true?

Now even though I am not much of a fan of the taste of Burger King's French fries in their current invisi-coated incarnation, they are, in fact, usually hot, fresh, and crispy. The point is however, that's not always the case.

How about this idea: Leave the X's out of the boxes and let the consumer decide. If a particular Frypod full o' fries doesn't measure up, mark off the boxes that apply (if any) and mail it off to BK. In return for your opinion, they get some feedback on their product and a chance to tighten up quality control, and perhaps they could send you coupons for another chance at the fries. Just an idea, but heck, at one time the Frypod was just an idea...


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Priorities

Vandal-Prone of The Run of Play blogs about what is really important. Check it out here.

Don't Apologize - The Sequel

Asian Glow made this remix/sequel to Happy Slip's "French Fries" which has been unfortunately removed from YouTube. :-( But hey, there's still French fries...

Just Cook It

Alex Rushmer of Just Cook It takes a look at the history of the potato, and how it makes that yummy transformation into English chips, mmm...

Check it out here.


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Flame

Nope, believe it or not, it's true. It's the Burger King flavored body spray - Flame - and it's for real. Check it out here.

When does the French fry flavor come out?