French Fry Melt Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (or the temperature indicated on the package of french fries). Spray a large rimmed baking pan with cooking spray.
• Spread the fries in the pan in a single layer and spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake according to the package directions or until very crispy.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Slowly add the broth while whisking constantly and occasionally stirring with a rubber spatula, making sure to get into the edges of the pan, until all of the broth has been incorporated. Add the cream and increase the heat to medium-high to bring to a rapid simmer. Simmer, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer half of the fries to a small rimmed baking pan or oven-safe platter. Top with half of the cheese, then add the remaining fries and the rest of the cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Drizzle the fries with some of the gravy. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut them lengthwise into slices, 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick, keeping the slices together. Give the sliced potato a quarter turn and cut slices into strips. Soak in cold water at least 30 minutes or overnight.
• Drain potatoes and pat dry. Place them in a deep heavy pot and pour in vegetable oil to cover, plus an inch or two. Heat to a bare simmer and let potatoes cook slowly for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until very soft.
• Raise the heat to medium. Line a large bowl with paper towels. Let potatoes fry in bubbling oil until golden and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Lift out potatoes and place in a paper towel-lined bowl. Shake to drain, remove paper towels, add salt, and shake again. Serve immediately!

Steps:

• Soak potatoes in a large bowl of water for about 30 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Gently add the potatoes in the hot oil for about 5 minutes, stirring and flipping the potatoes occasionally. Remove potatoes from oil with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towel and to cool completely.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry the potatoes again until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Blot with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt to serve.

Steps:

• Have your GH (Grown Helper) put fries in oven on a cookie sheet. While fries are baking in the oven, have a GH place a sauce pot on the stove and heat it over medium heat. Add butter and melt it. Add the flour and stir. Cook butter and flour together for 1 minute or so. This is called "roux" (like Tiger and Roo with Pooh Bear) and it helps to thicken up sauces. Use a whisk to stir as the milk goes into the pot. Keep stirring until the milk gets thicker. Use a wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula to stir in the cheese. When all of the cheese melts, take the sauce off the heat and stir in 3 squirts of ketchup. This is your SECRET ingredient. When everyone asks what you put in your cheese sauce that makes it taste so good, just say milk and cheese, you can NEVER tell what secret ingredients you add! Tell your GH to keep the secret, too or they can never help you again!
• Pour the sauce over the fries or serve the sauce on the side if you like to dipping better.

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and square off sides and ends. Cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices, and then cut into 4-by-1/3-by-1/3-inch sticks using a sharp knife or a mandolin. Place in a large bowl and add cold water to cover by 1 inch, then let soak in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. Drain potatoes and spread on a clean kitchen towel and dry completely, patting off as much water as possible.
• Line baking sheets with a double thickness of paper towels. Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy stockpot over medium heat to 300 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches and using a spider, lower potatoes into the oil (the temperature will drop significantly and slowly climb up again) and stir to separate. Cook just until softened (test one by breaking it in half; it should be almost completely cooked through), but not brown, about 3 minutes. Use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets to drain, spreading in a single layer. Allow oil to return to 350 degrees between each batch. (The potatoes can be blanched and left to drain on the prepared baking sheets for 4 hours in the refrigerator before finishing, replacing the paper towels as necessary.)
• Heat oil to 350 degrees.
• Again working in batches, add blanched potatoes to oil (the temperature will drop to about 340 degrees) and stir to separate. Cook until golden brown, 4 to 4 1/2 minutes; if desired, add the rosemary and lemon zest during the last 20 seconds of cooking. Use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer to prepared baking sheets to drain (replace paper towels if you are using the same baking sheets as above). Allow oil to return to 350 degrees between each batch.
• Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.