Parmesan Potato Fries
DIFFICULTY: HARD
Makes 4 servings
4 potatoes
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray. Wash the potatoes. Cut them into strips or rounds or any shape you choose.
Put the potatoes into a resealable bag or a large bowl. Add the oil to the bag or bowl and mix until the potatoes are well coated. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Toss again.
Place the potatoes in a single layer onto prepared baking pan or cookie sheet. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown. Halfway through baking, flip the potatoes over so they cook evenly on all sides.
Cut up 2 potatoes. Put one straight into a pot full of water. Leave the other out on the counter. What did you notice about the 2 potatoes? The one in the water didn't get brown, but the one on the counter did. Why? Because once you cut a potato, you expose its cells to the oxygen in the air, which causes the potato to brown. If you put the potato in water, the oxygen cannot reach the cells, so the potato doesn't brown.
