Best Ever Oven Parmesan Fries
4 large potatoes, keep skin on (about 2 pounds)
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons ground thyme (or use poultry seasoning or dried oregano)
A few grinds of fresh black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed fresh garlic
1/4 cup finely minced fresh Italian parsley
Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Wash and dry potatoes, and cut them into French fry-size strips*. Place in large bowl and drizzle oil over. Toss until coated. Sprinkle with thyme and pepper and toss well until evenly coated.
Place on ungreased baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 30 minutes. While potatoes are baking, rinse out bowl and dry. In same bowl, stir together salt, cheese and garlic. Set aside.
Remove potatoes from oven and scrape into bowl with cheese. Using two spoons, toss potatoes until garlicky cheese coats them. Scrape potatoes back onto baking sheet in a single layer, and bake another 10 minutes. Make sure all cheese mixture is on potatoes. (Do not wash bowl yet.)
Remove from oven and return to same bowl. Add parsley and toss until hot fries are coated with parsley.
Makes 4 servings. (Oh, who are we kidding? Makes 1 serving if no one else is around!)
*How to cut potatoes into French fry strips:
First way: Cut each potato into 3 flat “rafts.” Stack rafts and cut lengthwise into strips the size of fries.
Second way: For shorter fries, cut potato in half lengthwise, and then in half widthwise. Cut each potato quarter into 5 or 6 slices.