If you're planning to eat frozen faux-chicken nuggets or pizza for dinner anytime soon, we may have a lot in common. For instance, did you also wake up with a gigantic headache that didn't abate until nearly 2 pm, regardless of ibuprofen or cups of tea alike? Yeah! Fist bump! Because that's what happened yesterday at our house.

So, to class up our low-effort dinners, both now and in the future, I propose that we should all make these fries. They're super simple: just potatoes, oil, and a few seasonings, all stuck in the oven to turn beautiful and golden. Homemade fries make everything better.


Easy oven fries

waxy potatoes of your choice
flavorless oil
salt, pepper
mustard powder
cayenne, paprika, or chili flake

Start by preheating your oven to 375F.

Scrub your potatoes well under cold running water. Slice them into the fry shape of your choice. I usually go for the thicker steak fry shape, which produces some lovely fluffy potato in the center of each fry.

Put your potatoes in a bowl. Add a slug of oil, just enough to coat your potatoes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, a couple good dashes of mustard powder, and as much hot (or mild) pepper as you desire. I used paprika and red New Mexico chile flake. Stir everything together until well coated.

Arrange your fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, flipping your fries about halfway through. Thicker fries will need a bit more time to cook completely. Personally, I like steak fries, as they are tastier and also require less chopping, so mine took closer to 45 minutes to bake.

When your fries are golden brown on both sides and totally tender inside, you are done. Serve them hot, with the ketchup, bbq sauce, or other dipping creation of your choice. The yogurt-dijon mustard sauce I made the other day would be amazing. I'm just saying.

What do you make to bump your everyday dinners up a notch?