OVEN FRIED FRENCH FRIES

french fries & ketchup is one of my favourite junk foods. i will judge a restaurant purely on the quality of their french fries. they are too simple of a dish to make, no restaurant should serve shitty fries. i will also take any excuse i can to consume a large amount of ketchup, because ketchup. these french fries go really well with the bbq turkey burger i'll be blogging about tomorrow;) they produce a crispy exterior and soft interior.

ingredients

• 4-5 yukon gold potatoes [can use baking potato too]
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• freshly ground pepper & salt

directions

• preheat oven to 350 degrees
• rinse and cut potatoes into french fry strips
• in a large bowl filled with cold water, soak cut potatoes for approximately 1 hour. this will remove all the starches and help the potatoes crisp up and brown.
• drain potatoes and place on a baking sheet. let potatoes dry before dressing.
• add oil and toss to coat completely.
• add salt and pepper.
• bake at 350 for 20 minutes, flip potatoes and bake for another 20 minutes.
• turn oven up to 400 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes, until the potatoes become golden brown and crispy.
• remove from oven and finish off with additional salt and pepper.

PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED ASPARAGUS

this is a very easy and simple dish to make, but holds so much flavour. it can be served as a side dish, appetizer, or part of an anti-pasto platter. asparagus is one of my favourite 'fancy' vegetables, as for prosciutto.. i put that shit on everything. my mom and i serve this at christmas time [as part of a 50 course feast], but asparagus is so perfect for summer too. you could even do these on the grill because everything taste better barbecued, doesn't it?

ingredients

• 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed
• 100 grams thinly sliced prosciutto
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• sea salt & pepper
• parmesan, shaved on top

directions

• preheat oven to 400 degrees
• blanch the asparagus in boiling water for 1 minute and immediately submerge it in an ice bath. this will make your asparagus bright and vibrant.
• remove from ice bath and toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
• wrap a thin slice of prosciutto around every 2-3 stalks
• place in pan and roast for 7-10 minutes, until the asparagus is cooked and the prosciutto is crispy
• finish with a few shavings of real parmesan and serve

ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE [MATILDA CAKE]

this is the ultimate chocolate cake. it is what i like to call THE matilda cake. i mean, yes this scene is meant to be discusting or something, but that cake. as a kid, we secretly wished all punishments were like that, or at least i did. but enough about matilda, and more about this one bowl chocolate cake. until my aunt first made this cake for me, i kind of hated chocolate cake. whenever i attend parties where chococlate cake is served, i swear it has zero chocolate flavour aside from the icing. however, this cake stands alone. it doesn't need frosting to mask the blandness and dryness. it is dark, rich, and so moist. serve it with a dusting of icing sugar and you my friend, will have the best chocolate cake you've ever made (side note: it can be frosted, it is the base i use for all my chocolate layer cakes). in this particular recipe, i use almond milk as the liquid and it comes out of a greased pan easily. but a little secret from my aunt, sub equal part greek yogurt for the almond milk. the only downside is it will have to be served straight from the baking dish. the upside, is it becomes even more moist and fudgey.

ingredients

• 2 cups raw sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup dutch dark cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup almond milk (sub 1 cup greek yogurt)
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup boiling water

directions

• preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• in a mixing bowl mix raw sugar, oil and vanilla.
• add eggs and almond milk until well combined.
• sift in cocoa powder, flour, salt and baking soda until just blended.
• slowly pour in boiling water and stir until you have a silky looking cake batter.
• bake in a 9x13 greased dish for 30-40 minutes.