Warning! Do not make these potatoes when you are alone! OK, that sounds a little dramatic, but it really is for your own good. These potatoes are so freaking amazing you will be tempted to eat the entire batch all by yourself. This comes, of course, from a self-proclaimed fanatic and victim of said danger: me!

Here’s the story: I have had a love affair with French fries my entire life. To the point that I have had to go cold turkey off the fried little gems several times over my 40-ahem-years in hopes of dropping a few pounds. And now, at this point in my life, I refuse to do without. So I’m just trying to improve the nutritional benefit of one of my favorite foods.

I hit the test kitchen with 10-pound bag of russet potatoes and various and sundry methods in my cooking arsenal. Let me tell you, it was hard work, dirty work and a whole lot of potatoes that would have been better left raw. But for you, my dear devoted readers, I have come up with possibly the best roasted-potato recipe I have ever made. Not to mention I have cut the calories in more than half and fat and sodium by two-thirds or more.*

The scoop is simple really: high heat and assertive seasoning.

The reason a French fry is so darn good is because it is fried. High heat, in the French fry category -  boiling oil, means moist tender insides and crispy outsides. The deep-fried-oil piece is just the beginning of the “bad” for you part. Then comes the seasoning. If you ever watched your favorite fast food restaurant season your fries, it’s really quite amazing or disturbing, how much “stuff” they put on there.

Since I ditched the Fry Daddy years ago, high temperature in the oven was my answer. For the seasoning, I chose a sodium-free lemon-pepper seasoning mix, garlic and added salt to taste (with some guidelines). I have sized the batch for 2 people, but it is easily doubled or tripled for more.

Enjoy these delicious “fries” with the traditional burger, sandwich, chicken, fish, or steak… well just about anything.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you if you feel compelled to eat more than one serving!