Baked Potato Fries

Who doesn't love fries? Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

I have tried several versions of baking these and this recipe is near perfect for a baked fry.
The trick is to cut the fries evenly, boil them for a short time and then bake them.
Add some toppings of your choice and it's a delicious even snack or an appetizer.

Ingredients:

Potatoes: 3 

Seasoning: Salt, Pepper/Cajun Seasoning

Olive Oil - 1 tsp

Toppings:

Shredded Cheese, Green Onions, Sriracha

Wash and cut the potatoes into 1/2 inch thick fries. Place a pot of water on the stove top and boil water in it. Add salt to the water when it starts to boil and blanche the sliced potatoes in the water for 5 min. Remove and drain and excess water.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450F. Once the potatoes are partly dry, add a tsp of olive oil and some salt and pepper, paprika or any seasoning you like.

Mix well and place on a baking tray in a single layer. I like to use parchment paper to avoid cleaning up. Spray or drizzle some oil on the pan to avoid the fried from sticking to the pan.

Bake the fries for about 15 min and turn them over half way through the cooking process.

They should start to get crispy and brown. If not, bake them for a few more minutes until they do.

Remove and sprinkle with the toppings of your choice. I used some shredded mozzarella and green onions. The heat from the potatoes should melt the cheese and no more baking is required.

If you prefer, you can put them back in the over for a minute or so for the cheese to melt.

Enjoy them hot and fresh!

Quick lunch Salad with Black Bean and Avocado

Here's a quick and easy lunch for those busy afternoons when I am home alone. Truth is, this is not a lot of food and would hardly satisfy the Mr. However, it's a perfect light lunch and has all the necessary nutrients. The black beans and the avocado add a richness and makes it hearty and satisfying.

I used a left over Black Bean burger patty, but some cooked black beans or corn would be just as good.

Ingredients:

Greens - Lettuce, Spinach

Avocado - 1/2

Red Onion - 1/4

Tomato - 1 small

Cucumber - 1/2

Black Bean patty - 1 (or 1/2 cup Black Beans)

Dressing of your choice - 2 Tbsp

Chop all the veggies into cubes and roughly chop the greens.

Add everything to a bowl and top with the broken Black bean patty or some black beans.

Drizzle over some dressing and enjoy.

I used this:

Lime and Cilantro Yogurt Dressing - 1/4 cup 

(In a blender, add 1/4 cup yogurt, pinch of salt, squeeze half a lime, a small piece of avocado and a few springs of cilantro, half a jalapeno and blend)