Seasoned Oven Fries

Friday night calls for fun food. That's my philosophy. You've made it through the week, so now it's time to kick back and relax. Most Friday's, I don't even want to cook dinner. But eating out has many downsided. So, on Friday, I try to find meals that are fun to eat and make. These are better than Wendy's fries (those are my favorite fast food fries for some reason haha) and I always pair them with Quinoa Chicken Nuggets. It's like a homemade kids meal. And since it's healthier, there's still a little room for a weekend treat!
I don't cook potatoes very often, because I feel that there are healthier choices for sides and also, they're hard for me to season. I always want to add a lot of butter, milk, sour cream, ANYTHING to add a little bit more taste to them. Salt them up and have some ketchup handy is usually my "healthy" option for any kind of potatoes. But, these changed my life. The seasoning mixture is oh, so good. A little kick, and definately salty. 
I always have a hard time cutting these things correctly, so I usually let Michael do it. We cute some thinner French fries and also some slightly thicker wedges to please the both of us. They've turned out perfectly every time we've tried them. One thing to know about cooking fries, is that they're better if you start them earlier that day if you're going to chill them. Keep them in the fridge all day if needed! Boiling is a faster option, but you need to be on the ball the whole time while making these.

Ingredients
2 Tbsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. dried basil
1/8 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 medium russet potatoes
1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Wash potatoes and peel if wanted (I like to keep the peel on)
2. Cut potatoes into slices about 1/4 in. thick or slightly larger wedges
3. Add potatoes to cold or boiling water (see step 4 for chilling and step 5 for boiling)
4. Add the potatoes to a large bowl and of cold water and let soak in fridge for at least 30 minutes- these can soak all day or night if needed
5. Fill a stock pot with boiling water and let place potatoes in boiling water, making sure to stir around occasionally for about 15-20 minutes
6. While fries are soaking, add seasoning together in a small bowl and set aside
7. When fries are finished, drain, rinse, and lay them on a paper towel lines cooling rack to dry
8. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees 
9. Line a baking pan with parchment and cooking spray
10. Add potatoes to a bowl and mix with olive oil and half of the seasoning mixture- stir around until mixed well
11. Line the baking pan with potatoes in a single layer
12. Bake for 30 minutes and, flip, and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes or until edges look crisp
13. Sprinkle fries with remaining seasoning (depending on how much salt you like) and top with optional cheese 

Origanal recipe found from Layers of Happiness. 

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