Sometimes a guy needs …

32 Responses to Sometimes a guy needs …

1. fieldsparrow says:

   6 June 2011 at 11:51 am

   That plate is misleading as to its contents.
2. cblanch says:

   6 June 2011 at 11:54 am

   Sometimes?! Lol
3. kford says:

   6 June 2011 at 11:56 am

   See, here’s a time where “saying the black” just confuses the people…
4. albinus1 says:

   6 June 2011 at 12:02 pm

   In the summer of 2003 I went on a picnic with some friends. One of them picked up a loaf of French break at the supermarket. The plastic bag containing the break had “French Bread” printed on it. Over this the supermarket had pasted a label reading “Freedom Bread”. Seriously.
5. AnAmericanMother says:

   6 June 2011 at 12:04 pm

   I think it’s arguable that the French may have rehabilitated themselves somewhat under Sarkozy. Somewhat.
6. James Joseph says:

   6 June 2011 at 12:22 pm

   In my hurly-burly days I was a big fan of Freedom Kissing.
7. wanda says:

   6 June 2011 at 12:58 pm

   Oooo, they look great!

   James Joseph! I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked! I feel a case of the vapors coming on.
8. drwob says:

   6 June 2011 at 1:10 pm

   Fr., at the risk of seeming boorish, may I ask whether you deep-fried or baked them? I ask because we don’t have a deep-fryer, and these look pretty good. If you baked them, I’d be interested in hearing your recipe/process.
9. BLB Oregon says:

   6 June 2011 at 1:10 pm

   Freedom Fries? I had hoped to never hear that ridiculous phrase again. Forgive me, those of you who are partial to it, I know you are in distinguished company….but what utter nonsense!

   If we didn’t resort to playing “Freedom Roulette” during the Cold War, then what in the h-e-double toothpicks was this about?

   Political correctness is not less silly because it has conservative roots instead of liberal ones.
10. BLB Oregon says:

    6 June 2011 at 1:13 pm

    PS Cook’s Illustrated has a great method for making french fries.
    http://domesticagenda.blogspot.com/2009/07/cooks-illustrated-cold-oil-french-fries.html
11. MJ says:

    6 June 2011 at 1:31 pm

    Homemade? :) Mmm!
12. BaedaBenedictus says:

    6 June 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Vivent la Belgique et la France!
13. avecrux says:

    6 June 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Sometimes ladies need them as well. After eating a salad for lunch (not because I wanted it, but because it is what I *should* eat), I stole three fries from my 10 year old – with permission. I would have taken more if I could have gotten away with it….
14. Ralph says:

    6 June 2011 at 3:46 pm

    Hurrah!!
    Father, this is the first item that you have made that I know I can cook! (I ran the deep fryer at our parish bingo kitchen) I can’t explain why, but I feel great about it!

    BTW, very nice looking frys. Well done, sir.
15. MichaelJ says:

    6 June 2011 at 4:11 pm

    BLB Oregon

    Given that “political correctness” is defined by websters as: “conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated”, I’m not sure if you could characterize the phrase “Freedom Fries” as being motivated by political correctness.
16. semperficatholic says:

    6 June 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Fr. Z, if a fellow priest at the same table says, “LOOK”, while pointing out of the window at the bird feeder, better put your hands over your plate of fries before you look. ;0)
17. Geoffrey says:

    6 June 2011 at 4:53 pm

    My mortal weakness. How I pray there are FRENCH fries in heaven!!!
18. trespinos says:

    6 June 2011 at 5:11 pm

    They’re fine, I’m sure. But potatoes O’Brien are the real deal.
19. RichardT says:

    6 June 2011 at 5:20 pm

    If you don’t like thinking of the French, next time eat like your allies and cook proper (English) chips.

    For those who haven’t tried it, cut them much thicker than fries (half an inch square cross-section), then deep-fry twice in dripping (hotter the second time), patting dry in between. Drain, sprinkle with salt & vinegar, and eat.

    Or for a real guilty treat, the chip butty. Chips as above, then put hot into a buttered soft bread roll (good dense bread with a soft crust). There’s something about the combination that is irresistable (and something about mixing two carbohydrates and two animal fats that infuriates the dietitians).
20. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf says:

    6 June 2011 at 5:27 pm

    semperficatholic:

     

    In truth, I am not happier today than a bird with a french fry, but it is a great aspiration.
    
21. muckemdanno says:

    6 June 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Of course, all the Anglophiles here harbor an unreasonable hatred for the French.

    Anyone who isn’t insane, of course, prefers French cuisine (chocolate mousse) to English (kidney pie…yum…lol)
22. ContraMundum says:

    6 June 2011 at 7:10 pm

    :-) I like that, Father: a bird with a French fry is very happy indeed!

    The best “fries” are just sliced potatoes fried in bacon grease. Then again, what food isn’t better when fried in bacon grease?
23. MarkJ says:

    6 June 2011 at 8:15 pm

    Please leave the French out of this… it was the Belgians who invented “pommes frites” :-)
24. BLB Oregon says:

    6 June 2011 at 9:51 pm

    MichaelJ, I have to disagree with your assessment.

    I submit that the term “Freedom Fries” was invented by political types who were accomodating the sensibilities of constituents who were finding anything even remotely “French” uniquely offensive in and of itself. After all, the connection between french fries and France is about as remote as it gets.

    The fries were innocent*, the name was innocent. The term was not intended as a poke in the eye of the French, so much as a way of accomodating the sensibilities of those who were mad at France. A more political example of political correctness would be hard to find.

    (*I suppose they can be a guilty pleasure, but the name change doesn’t address that!)
25. danielinnola says:

    6 June 2011 at 10:29 pm

    Being that I am of Louisiana French descent. I feel duty bound to remind everyone that if it were not for the French, it is doubtful that the colonists would have prevailed in the revolutionary war… Jus sayin
26. Elizabeth D says:

    7 June 2011 at 12:22 am

    I am sorry Fr Z is unhappy lately. I prayed for you Fr Z.
27. Mariana says:

    7 June 2011 at 1:18 am

    muckemdanno,

    No, no, all the best anglophiles prefer French cooking : ) !
28. benedetta says:

    7 June 2011 at 8:00 am

    Freedom!
29. Banjo pickin girl says:

    7 June 2011 at 8:07 am

    danielinnola, when people go on and on about how “we saved France” in WWII I remind them that we were repaying the kindness done for us during our Revolution. Ditto Poland.

    I have no potatoes to fry in this fight! 8-)

    Fr. Z. I have been wondering if you might be a little sad, hence not feeling like cooking which you normally love to do. Maybe you are one of those folks who is affected by changes in day length. So, have more fries! Put tartar sauce on them (a hint from a former co-worker from Korea)! And don’t forget ice cream!
30. jarhead462 says:

    7 June 2011 at 8:33 am

    A few things:
    1.“French” refers to the way the potatoes are cut- i.e. “frenched” fried potatoes.
    2.BLB Oregon: I disagree- “Freedom Fries”, and “Freedom Toast” were indeed a poke in the eye of France, because of their opposition to the invasion of Iraq. (We then found out they were busy profiting from food for oil kickbacks, and selling centerfuge parts under the table. No kidding they did not want the US to invade!). As I recall, there was also an unofficial boycott of French goods for awhile.
    3. Banjo pickin girl- We repaid our blood debt in WWI. After WWII the score is: France-1 US-2
    4.Now I am hungry!!
    5. I hope things get better for you soon Father- Sending my prayers!

    Semper Fi!
31. jarhead462 says:

    7 June 2011 at 8:37 am

    One more thing RE: France’s debt- They can pay me in Wine ;)
    that should read- Centrifuge

    Semper Fi!
32. irishgirl says:

    7 June 2011 at 9:16 am

    Are you still down, Father Z? What can we do to help you make you feel better? I don’t like seeing you sad!