Air Fryer Steak Fries

So Saturday night's meal was supposed to be easy. I had some wings to throw on the grill, a can of Bush's baked beans and I was going to round things out with some sweet potato fries. But when to went to get the fries from the freezer, I discovered I was out. Bummer. I was really looking forward to those sweet potato fries. Well, then I had to figure out what to have in their stead. I spotted some russet potatoes in the pantry. I wasn't in the mood for mashed or baked, I wanted fries. But not plain old fries.

Suddenly my brain went back to our recent trip to Oklahoma and some fries my daughter had ordered when we went out one night. They were wedged potatoes, nice and thick, with an amazing seasoning. Hmm... I could do that. And cooked in the air fryer, they'd come out nice and crisp on the outside.

Game on!

I cut five small potatoes into wedges.

Then I added some olive oil, some salt, pepper and garlic powder, and then, for a little more texture on the outside, I grated up some Parmesan, threw that in and tossed everything together.

I put them in the air fryer basket and set them to cook at 400 degrees for roughly 20 minutes, shaking them every 5 minutes. That time will vary depending on how thick the potatoes are.

Tah-dah!

Mission accomplished. They were crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and packed with flavor. They were the perfect accompaniment to the wings. Though, honestly, I probably could have made a meal on the fries alone.

Could these be done in the oven? Yes. Simply line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and prepare them the same. Be sure to give them a toss/stir midway through the cooking process. 

Next time, I think I'll try to replicate the bacon-cheddar fries our son introduced us to at a restaurant in Dallas. I can hardly wait.

What's something you've made when you were in a pinch that turned out better than you expected?

Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, one sassy pup, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at mindyobenhaus.com

Air "Frying" Okra

Missy Tippens

Today, I want to share a great way to make okra--for less time and with less calories.

A friend from church gave us a batch of fresh okra last week (Thanks, Bud!). I decided to cook it in the air fryer.

I'd tried sliced okra in the air fryer before and overcooked it. So this time I left the smaller ones whole and cut the larger ones in half or thirds. Then I sprayed them lightly with Pam (Olive Oil).

I cooked the okra on the shrimp setting! That was about 320 degrees for 8 minutes (I think). It was perfect.

We also cooked these in the air fryer to go along with the okra. They were very good!

Here's the finished okra with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.

Such a yummy dinner! While eating, my husband got close to his plate and, very surprised, said, "I don't see the breading!"

Nope. None needed. And he and my daughter both said the okra tasted like regular fried okra. So it was a big win!


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Roasting Vegetable Mixes

Missy Tippens

I wanted to share something new I discovered. I've been having fun with my air fryer and have enjoyed finding freezer items I can cook quickly. It's nice for side dishes, of course. But I've been cooking these as a way to snack on vegetables.

There are several of these PictSweet mixes. Here's one...

Another I tried and really enjoyed was a mix of potatoes and onions.

I just put the frozen veggies in the basket and give it a little spray with Pam. The cooking times have varied, mainly because I'm not sure what to use. I just keep trying different temps and times.

I really enjoyed this combo! Here they are after the veggies have started to caramelize a bit.

I've also really enjoyed cooking fresh cauliflower bites.

You'll have to let me know if you have any air fryer favorites!

Now, for dessert...

I finally did my second oil painting for the class I've been taking with Dreama Tolle Perry! It's a little squatty and lopsided, but overall, I'm pleased with it. And I had fun, which is the most important part! :)


www.missytippens.com

Kale Chips in the Air Fryer

Missy Tippens

Years ago, I shared a recipe for kale chips. I love them. So when I bought my new air fryer a couple of months ago, I knew I wanted to try making them.

First, I washed and dried the kale.

Then I stripped of the stems. Part of the beauty of an air fryer is saving on oil use. So I simply spritzed the leaves with some Pam.

Then I placed them in the fryer and lightly salted.

I don't remember how long I cooked the kale, but it wasn't long enough. When I first tasted the chips, I found some really good ones. But as I sat down to eat dinner, I discovered there were some areas that didn't get done enough. They were soggy instead of crispy. Next time, I'll cook them longer and also pull out the drawer to shake them more often. I may also work in smaller batches. That way they'll cook more evenly.

Still, I got a decent serving that was crispy and tasty!

www.missytippens.com

Missy's New Kitchen Gadget!

Missy Tippens

I have a new appliance in my kitchen! Thanks to Audra Harders's recommendation, I splurged and bought an air fryer for myself during all the big sales last week. I used it yesterday for the first time and thought I'd share!

I had a craving for tater tots. :) Plus, I wanted to add some veggies. Audra had said how much she loves to make crunchy vegetable snacks, so I poured a bag of frozen, whole green beans onto the tots.

I cooked for 18 minutes at 400 degrees, shaking halfway through.

The tots turned out great! And with no oil at all. The beans were overdone. I learned a lesson! I should have added them about halfway through when I was doing the shaking. I think it would have been just perfect that way.

You can see that the beans look a little dark. They were hard to chew--although I found some that were still good to eat.

I'm pleased and look forward to trying other dishes in my new air fryer. I especially want to try chicken wings! I LOVE wings at restaurants but the frying oil and skin make them high-calorie. I want to try them with and without skin in the air fryer. Will let you know how it goes!

Have y'all tried this gadget yet?

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Kitchen Gadgets - Let's Talk Air Frying

Mindy here, wondering if you all have seen these new air fryers that are on the market. They claim you can fry with little or no oil, yet get the same results as regular frying. I was intrigued, so I asked for one for my birthday.

And, since it was the only thing I asked for, I received.

Guess what?

I love it!

Okay, so I've only used it for a few frozen foods so far, but I am pleased with the results. Best of all, cleanup is a breeze.

We love frozen boneless wings and though we usually cook them in the oven, they just aren't as crisp their fried counterparts. So, we put them into the air fryer and voila!

Crispy on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside.

Cool!

Well, that inspired me to keep playing, so I threw in some frozen sweet potato fries and let them cook for approximately 14 minutes.

All of the deliciousness, none of the added fat. Hubby especially likes those brown ends. Crispy, but with no burned taste.

According to the manufacturer, you can even bake, sauté, grill and roast in it. Of course, I haven't tried any of those things yet. Still, the option is there. You can even make homemade French fries and fried chicken. Oh, and cleanup is a breeze. Simply rinse or wipe out the basket and holder and you're done.

For now, I will enjoy my favorite frozen fried foods without guilt. Something that is especially convenient on those days when we are busy prepping the house to go on the market. The clock is ticking and there's still so much to do.

Now it's your turn. Have you ever tried an air fryer? Would you try one?

What are your thoughts?

Mindy Obenhaus lives in Texas with her husband and kids. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com