As I write to you tonight the wind is howling. I can hear it shrieking around corners and sending leaves and branches skittering across my terrace. It sounds very cold and stormy and I’m so glad to be safe and warm indoors. It makes me think of a snippet of poetry I read earlier this evening:
Brew me a cup for a winter’s night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight
– M.T. Antrim –
On nights like this it’s lovely to remember other winter days when the sun shone brilliantly, the sky was clear, and I got to walk through the sun-drenched countryside.
My neighbor was pottering in his garden next to the barn, preparing the soil for spring days hopefully not too far away. It makes me smile when I walk past and his cat is sitting in the driveway, gazing magisterially over the fields as if he owns the place.
I left the main road and ambled into the woods, delighted when I looked up and saw this splendid red barn through the trees. It made me think of barn dances and tables laden with pies and cakes, friends and neighbors gossiping happily as children run about underfoot. I took a deep breath of cold air, smiling at hints of woodsmoke and cedar.
As I walked back home I began craving comfort food, something warm and cozy and naughty. What better than Belgian-style French Fries tossed with minced garlic and parsley? I set the oil on to heat while I cut the potatoes, soaked them in salt water, and patted them dry. After a 6 minute dunking in sizzling hot oil, I drained them, salted them well, and cooled them before putting them in the oil for two more minutes to crisp and brown. While they were still hot I added a couple spoonfuls of finely minced garlic, a sprinkling of parsley, a bit more salt and pepper, then sat down with a dollop of mayonnaise for dipping.
They were everything I hoped for. Alas, I was so ravenous that I forgot to take a picture, and “had” to make them again the next day to rectify my mistake. Poor me. I highly recommend making this mistake. 😉
What’s your favorite thing to eat after a winter walk?
Belgian French Fries with Garlic
Ingredients:
3-4 potatoes
vegetable oil
salt
pepper
dried parsley
minced garlic to taste
mayonnaise
Directions:
- Heat oil in deep saucepan over medium-high heat about 5-7 minutes.
- Slice potatoes into finger-lengths, let soak in salt water a few minutes.
- Remove from salt water and pat dry.
- Place dry potatoes in oil and let cook for 5-6 minutes.
- Remove with slotted spoon and let drain and cool on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt right away.
- When cool, return potatoes to hot oil and cook for 1-2 minutes more until they are golden brown.
- Remove with slotted spoon and let drain on paper towels. Salt and pepper to taste.
- In bowl toss with minced garlic and parsley.
- Serve hot with mayonnaise.
You live in a beautiful place! One day I would like to visit you! 🙂
Hi Krista,
It’s been a while since I had fries, I have to watch my weight, all I can do is eat them with my eyes, they really look yummy. After a walk in the frozen countryside, I love a steaming bowl of creamy vegetable soup with crunchy garlic bread.
Love,
Alina
Haha I love it! I ought to make that mistake a few times. Belgian fries are just so delicious-I always feel the need to order them if I see them! 🙂
The barn is really captivating…makes me want to travel to New England and have a peek at the insides of these old classics. The fries give me added appetite… so I journey to my newly remade kitchen and ponder a jello dish for my first grandchild, who will be here in less than four hours. We will whip cream and pour over
our strawberry treat. Save some fries for your brother Ryan…
balsamic vinegar and a hint of xyloil with oil oil can be an excellent sprinkle to cut calories in mayonnaise.
I love making garlic fries, if you´re not worried about your waistline when you toss them with garlic add a bit of butter.
One of the food memories that I bring back from backpacking Europe in the ’80’s is having mayonnaise with my fries. We had the same howling wind last night so Inded up turning on the TV to lull me to sleep.
I would LOVE you to visit me, Zita! I would take you to all my favorite places and we could take pictures and eat delicious things and talk for hours. 🙂
Hi Alina! I definitely can’t have these every day either. 🙂 But they sure were a scrumptious treat!
I agree, Lorraine! They’re such delicious little devils, always comforting. 🙂
A trip to New England sounds amazing, Susan. Especially in the fall. 🙂 So glad you have a new kitchen to be creative in! 🙂
Oh my, Ayngelina! Butter too? I think I may swoon. 🙂
Wasn’t that wind LOUD, Val? It took me ages to fall asleep!
Beautiful photos!
And poor you! You had to make these twice just to tempt us! 🙂
If as an occasional treat I have French Fries I like mayonnaise to dip them in, but like the idea of adding garlic.
That photo with the mountain in the distance is glorious ,you live in a beautiful place:)
It is also very cold here, with a north wind howling around the house for nearly 48hrs now!
I’ve always liked garlic taste with French fries!
Thanks for the recipe..have a great weekend 🙂
So glad you like them, Barbara. Such a rough life I lead, eh? 🙂
It is very beautiful here, Linda. 🙂 Brrr, so sorry you’re cold too! At least we have glorious sunshine today. It may be cold but it’s not dreary. 🙂
You’re so welcome, Tangerine! I love garlic too. 🙂
I totally love when sunny and winter are said in the same breathe!
As muc as i lovee that garlicky and french fries in the same 🙂
I lovee them with mayo bdw:-)
Your photos are wonderful, as are your Belgian French fries. I love that you are serving them with a mayonnaise type sauce. I’m more likely to brew a good cup of coffee rather than eat after a walk. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Congratulations on surviving making this dish again. It definitely looks like a painful experience 🙂
I love that you treated yourself to something naughty! And the fact that the garlic here is raw is so exciting. These look fantastic! I usually make oven fries, but I bet they would also be great tossed with garlic and parsley.
oh that 2nd image is lovely and so cozy. no wonder you were in the mood for comfort food!! love the fries, but what makes them Belgian-style? is it the parsley? educate me girl! 🙂
Now those fries sound deadly! The photographs are stunning, Krista! Absolutely stunning.
🙂
valerie
Beautiful photographs Krista., you take us all on a journey with them 🙂
I love French Fries! Guilty pleasure. These look great!
There is actually a similar lebanese recipe. We chop the potatoes into cubes and fry em, then sautee them with garlic and cilantro instead of parsely. yum! this looks very delish too.
Oh me too, Mia! Days like that make me so very happy. 🙂