July 13th - National French Fries Day

July 13th is "National French Fries Day", or as we like to call it around these parts, Fryday. That joke only works about once every 5 years or so, so if you are reading this and don't get the joke, realize that this was written on a friday. What's not to love about the French fry though? They can be baked, fried, curled, seasoned, dipped in ketchup, ranch, bbq, thousand island or even mayonaisse (only if you have issues) and can accompany just about any meal. Paired best with hotdogs and hamburgers, the french fry has been a staple for summer cookouts and restaurants everywhere for quite some time now.

Thought to have originated sometime in 17th century Belgium, the French fry was said to have been thought up by resourceful (or just lazy) fisherman. The inhabitants would often cook up small strips of fish that they caught earlier in the day to accompany their meals. When the weather would become too dangerous to fish, they would cut up potatoes into thin strips and fry them up to resemble the fish they would normally use. Later, in the early 19th century, this delicious side dish was said to have received it's current French name courtesy of American President Thomas Jefferson, who would noted that he would eat deep-fried raw potatoes cut up into small proportions and accredited French chef Honoré Julien with creating the dish.

So whether you call them French Fries, chips, wedges, tater tots, frites or Belgian fries, just be sure to celebrate by serving yourself a second or even third helping with all of your meals today. Those lazy Belgian fisherman would be proud to see their tradition still living on today...

If you would like to celebrate by making your very own batch, here's a video on how to make McDonald's French fries in the comfort of your own home.

Or if you are looking for a healthier alternative to French fries, here is a simple baked fries recipe to try out.

Ingredients:

3 russet potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
cooking spray
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking sheet. Arrange potato strips in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, skin sides down. Spray lightly with cooking spray, and sprinkle with basil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
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