Recipe: Italian Fries (baked using Italian herbs and Romano cheese)

ITALIAN FRIES

6 or 7 Idaho potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/3-inch-thick French fry-style strips, soaked in cold salted water
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or some combo of dried oregano, thyme, marjoram and basil
2 cups freshly grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) salted butter, cut into 6 cubes
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Drain the potatoes and pat dry with paper towel. Spread 1 tablespoon of the olive oil on each of 2 rimmed baking sheets and spread out the potatoes. Overlapping is fine.

Sprinkle the dried herbs evenly over the potatoes. Liberally spread the cheese and parsley on top. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the cheese. Scatter the cubed butter around the pans.

Bake until the potatoes are golden brown, rotating the pans after 30 minutes, for 45 to 50 minutes total. Use a spatula to lift the potatoes with all the crusty cheese adhered to them. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Makes 6 (generous) servings
Adapted from source: Mad Hungry Feeding Men and Boys: Recipes, Strategies and Survival Techniques by Lucinda Scala Quinn