Home Fries

Kelly, at Noonmom, wants to know how I make my home fries.  Well, it's pretty simple. 

I slice my potatoes (Length-wise, usually, and I prefer red potatoes, but Idaho works well, too.  Russets fall apart.).  Add the potatoes to a pan of salted, boiling water and let them cook for about 10 or 12 minutes, just to get them tender.  Then I drain them and let them cool. 

Then I take some butter and olive oil, heat it in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat (usually a tbsp of butter for every pound of potatoes, and no more than a tbsp of olive oil (for our family I probably use about three pounds of potatoes.  If you were cooking just for yourself, then I'd suggest using only a tsp of olive oil.)  Add the potatoes to the pan and saute them, turning them occasionally, cooking until they are golden brown.  It probably takes about 15 minutes, maybe more.  Right before they're done, add a little more butter; it makes them brown and yummy!

I like to sautee some onion, bell pepper and/or mushrooms seperately, and then add to the potatoes.  The kids just like their's plain.  You can do just about anything with them: if you like, you could add garlic (no garlic in this house!), hot sauce, chili seasonings, just about anything. 

So for four servings, use about three pounds of potatoes, 3 tbsp of butter/margerine and 1 tbsp of olive oil.