CRUNCHY IN FRENCH RECIPES

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into large, even-sized pieces and put in a large pan of cold salted water. Cover and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, then drain and return to the pan. Cover with a clean tea towel and the lid. Leave to steam dry for 5 minutes. Remove the tea towel and replace the lid. Shake the pan to roughen the edges of the potatoes, then tip on to a large baking tray, spread them out and leave to cool completely.

  To freeze: open freeze the potatoes on the baking tray, loosely covered with clingfilm, until solid. When frozen, tip the cold potatoes into large freezer bags and return to the freezer.

  To roast: there's no need to defrost the potatoes first. Preheat the oven to 220°C, fan 200°C, gas 7. Heat the olive oil or duck fat in a large roasting tin in the oven for 5 minutes. Carefully add the frozen parboiled potatoes and turn them to coat well in the hot oil. Cook for 40-50 minutes, turning in the oil once, until golden brown and beautifully crisp. Take out of the oven and sprinkle with crushed sea salt flakes and a little chopped rosemary, if you like, to serve.

   

  Get ahead: freeze up to a month ahead. Parboiling potatoes before freezing them is not only a great way to get ahead, it also makes the potatoes extra crunchy when cooked. Roast from frozen while your cooked Christmas turkey is resting.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack. Heat a griddle pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Zest the orange and set aside. Working over a medium bowl, segment the orange; squeeze the juice from the remaining orange membranes.
• Whisk the eggs, orange zest, milk, cinnamon and orange juice in a baking dish or shallow bowl. Add the cornflakes and bacon to another baking dish and toss together. Dip the bread slices in the egg mixture and let them soak for 1 minute.
• While the bread is soaking, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter on the griddle pan or skillet.
• Working with one slice of bread at a time, let the excess egg mixture drip off and then dredge the bread in the cornflake mixture. Add the bread to the griddle, carefully placing as many slices of bread as can comfortably fit without touching too much (it’s OK if the edges need to touch a little). You can dredge the bread, transfer it to an unlined baking sheet and hold for 5 minutes while one batch is cooking.
• Cook on one side, rotating occasionally, until the bottom is golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until it is equally browned, another 2 minutes. Transfer the slices to the prepared baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you complete the next batches. Repeat the cooking process, melting 2 tablespoons of butter for each batch.
• When all of the French toast is cooked and you are ready to serve, gently stir together the maple syrup and orange segments, making sure not to break up the segments. Spoon the syrup over the French toast and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve immediately.