Literary French Fries
August 19th has been designated National Potato Day and really, could there be a more delicious holiday? Potatoes are a wonderful vegetable and can be prepared in a multitude of ways. You can boil them, bake them, fry them, mash them, roast them…ugh, man, do we want potatoes. The possibilities are endless!
French Fries are by far one of the most popular ways to serve potatoes and legend has it that they were first introduced in the United States by Thomas Jefferson. Supposed during his term as president, he requested that the White House chef prepare “potatoes served in the French manner” for a dinner party.
Today we’re putting a literary spin on some french fries to bring you recipes inspired by books. The recipes below don’t list quantities, as you can use as much or as little of the toppings as you’d like.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
In the first novel of the series, Lena Kaligaris spends the summer visiting her grandparents in Santorini, Greece. This recipe will remind you of the gorgeous sandy beaches and the quaint seaside towns with by incorporating traditional Greek flavors.
- Frozen French fries
- Greek Olives, halved
- English cucumber, diced
- Sun-dried Tomatoes, chopped
- Red Onion, chopped
- Shredded Mozzarella cheese
- Feta Cheese
- Dried oregano
- Tzatziki
- Sauce
Prepare half the bag of French fries according to the directions on the package. Remove from oven, cover with mozzarella cheese, and sprinkle with dried oregano. Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. (Watch carefully because cheese melts quickly and you don’t want them to burn!) Remove from oven and transfer to a plate.
Top with greek olives, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and feta cheese and serve with tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping.
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Set in New Orleans in the 1950s, this book is full of murder, intrigue, and thoughts of delicious food. This recipe brings the appeal of N’awlins cooking to the comfort of loaded fries.
- Frozen French fries
- Andouille sausage, sliced
- Cooked and peeled Shrimp
- Chopped green pepper
- Chopped scallions
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Shredded Mozzarella cheese
- Remoulade sauce
Prepare half the bag of French fries according to the directions on the package. Remove from oven, cover with both cheeses, and sprinkle with creole seasoning. Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and transfer to a plate.
Top with sausage, shrimp, peppers, tomatoes, and chopped scallions. Serve with remoulade sauce for dipping.
The Horse and His Boy, Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
In The Horse and His Boy, the main characters are invited in to a Dwarf’s home for breakfast. Where upon entering they smell “a simply delightful smell. It was one he had never smelled in his life before, but I hope you have. It was, in fact, the smell of bacon and eggs and mushrooms all frying in a pan.”
- Frozen Home Fries
- Cooked bacon, crumbled
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Fried egg, runny yolk
- Diced avocado
- Ground Rosemary
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Prepare half the bag of home fries according to the directions on the package. Remove from oven, cover with both cheeses, and sprinkle with rosemary. Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and transfer to a plate.
Top with crumbled bacon, mushrooms, and diced avocado, then cover with the runny fried egg. Serve with ketchup on the side for dipping.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Death and disappearance are at the heart of this book about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. And while this recipe won’t help solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance, it just might help bring the family together for a delicious meal.
- Frozen French fries
- Shredded Chicken
- Diced Green Peppers
- Sliced Water Chestnuts
- Chopped Scallions
- Chopped Peanuts
- Sesame Oil
- Red Pepper flakes
- Monterey Jack Cheese
- Sweet and sour sauce
Prepare half the bag of home fries according to the directions on the package. Remove from oven, cover with cheese, and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove from oven, transfer to a plate, and drizzle with sesame oil.
Top with chicken, peppers, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, scallions, and peanuts. Serve with a sweet and sour sauce sauce for dipping.
Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown is a tech writer by day and an aspiring fiction writer by night. She blogs about geeky things at Avenging Force, spends far too much time on Tumblr, and tweets incessantly about books, food, and movies. Her great loves include books, climbing, action movies, superheroes, and Star Wars.
