We like potatoes with our meals. Both of us were brought up by families who cooked meat and 3 veg for dinner nearly every night of the year. My father wouldn’t touch pizza or lasagne or Chinese and if something didn’t look attractive, he wouldn’t touch that either. He ate like a horse and was always incredibly skinny but he ate only what he liked. If he wanted pie for breakfast – we had pie.
John tells the cutest story of the first Chinese takeaway (take out) that opened up when he was young. You had to bring your own plates and bowls and they’d fill them up. Classic! I was in a small town in Maine and people ate the same way their parents ate and their parents before them. Lots of beans, French peasant meals and dessert – always dessert.
I have heard for years about people cooking with soft drinks and I have always resisted it. I mentioned to John the other day that I might make chicken with Coca-Cola and he said something along the lines of ‘are you nuts?’ We’ve all seen the recipes for Coke or root beer and I was curious. The recipes I had seen looked really easy and I’ll share what I came up with on the blog soon. My friend Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella taught me the best phrase to describe this dish:
Chicken with Coca-Cola sauce “was pleasant enough.”
At our house we have mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes with Camembert cheese, garlic mash, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, potatoes sliced and baked with seasoning and paprika and I wanted something different. They had to be easy to eat for Rob, full of flavour for me and crispy enough for John to be happy.
I sliced the potatoes about 1/8 of an inch – fairly thick and tossed them with just a bit of oil and dried oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary and put them on the baking sheet. Once they were laid out nice and even, I added some sea salt over the top and popped them in the oven at 225C/450F for about 30 minutes. I kept peeking through the window because being sliced like that, they could burn and be disgusting and the chicken was nearly cooked. Nothing worse than a piece of chicken on the plate with 4 green beans and a piece of carrot – and people looking at you with that “where are the potatoes??” look. Trust me, it happened. Once.
They were terrific and Rob found them easy to eat, John found them crispy enough and the herbs gave them just that boost of flavour that I wanted. We decided we’d make these again. Next time I will add garlic cloves poked around the potatoes.
- 3 large potatoes sliced ⅛"
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2½ tablespoons cooking oil (any sort you like)
- salt and pepper to taste
- Preheat oven 225C/450F
- Mix herbs together
- Place potato slices in a large bowl and drizzle with oil and ½ the herbs. With your hands rub the oil over all the potatoes.
- Layer the potatoes in a shallow baking pan and sprinkle with the remainder of the herbs.
- Add freshly ground salt and pepper over the top
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are browned and crisp.
Garlic poked around the potatoes is always a good idea in my book. I’ve resisted those soda recipes, although Mrs K R did some sort of Texas cake with Coke, and it was pretty good. And we may even put it up on the blog someday, although you’ll notice we haven’t yet. 😉 Really good looking potatoes – definitely my sort of recipe. Thanks.
It’s funny, when I took them out of the oven I said I should have tossed in some garlic cloves and a few stalks of rosemary.
Mmm Yummy! I’d love a serve of this, but could also do with your mash with Camembert cheese idea
Oh those mashed potatoes with Camembert cheese were SO good! The guys keep asking when we’re going to have those again.
G’day and YUM Maureen, true!
Chef Georgio LOVES his potatoes and is great on days that end in Y too! 🙂
Cheers! Joanne
Great photo!
Chef Georgio and I would be best mates then. 🙂
I love roasted potatoes, these look exceptional!
I do like potatoes.
When you mentioned soft drinks, I thought you were going to reveal baked potatoes with coke in the ingredient list! I’m glad you stuck with this fail safe combination instead 🙂
I’m weird but not that weird. 🙂
Nope, you saved it for the chicken! 😉
LOL
As I read this, Maureen, we’ve just had a Sunday roast with, wait for it… baked potatoes in GOOSE FAT!!!, which Peter procured at Aldi. I love taties… yes, taties… but they don’t like me so much. That said, I love the look of yours and would eat them with gusto (I always include garlic too).
goose fat? OMG I’d be in HEAVEN!!!
Aldi? I’ll be there tomorrow.
Eating pie for breakfast is totally acceptable. I must admit today I have been caught red handed with a slice of pumpkin pie in my hand. Pumpkins are like a vegetable ,right? So on to your potatoes. I just love when potatoes are a little crispy and savory and this would go perfect with so many mains. My teenage boys love their potatoes! Have a super weekend. Take care, BAM
I got caught in the kitchen with a sliver of pecan pie in my hand. “Does this mean we aren’t getting dinner?” was the question. LOL
I was never quite wrapped my head about the whole using soft drinks in cooking idea (I don’t even drink them), but I love potatoes with everything, and frankly where I come from potatoes are kind of a staple. I think more than 50% of favorite national dishes use potatoes in one way or another… 🙂
Then I’d be very happy there, Gintare!! I agree about the soft drinks but I just had to know. 🙂
Great job on the potatoes! I find the timing of roasting potatoes to be soooo tricky, that I end up never making them this way
Phil tends to cook potatoes more often than me, and he usually goes for parboiling them and finishing either on top of the stove or in the oven. I should show him your post and dare him! ;-)))))
Seriously? I make roasted veggies so often that I just know it’s going to take 40 minutes if I parboil and an hour if I don’t. 🙂
Maureen I love this post! “Always dessert” is my moto! I love the bring your own bowl takeout plan. I wonder how many brought their big bowls?! These potatoes look terrific, perfectly cooked.
John’s dad was a university lecturer and his mother was an English teacher so they were both away from home long hours every day so when this Chinese place opened it was very exciting. 🙂
I don’t think there is a potato recipe or dish I do not like. These look and sound divine. Best of all….so easy.
You are so right… I whizzed them through the mandolin, drizzled and sprinkled and into the oven.
Looks good to me! Although by the time I’d sliced all the potatoes so thinly, I think I’d want dauphinoise 🙂
I used a mandolin and it took about a minute and I didn’t peel them. 🙂
Hello, fellow potato lover. My dad was the same way as yours. No lasagna, pizza, chinese food etc. A meat and potatoes guy. This potato dish looks simple and delicious. What more do you need … though I am tempted by lyonnaise, duchess, potatoes Anna etc.
I still haven’t been inspired to use soft drinks to cook meat in though. Beer now, that’s another story. 🙂
I haven’t used much beer other than to make batter. I’m eager for ideas!
I keep intending to try the famous ‘beer can chicken’ on the barbecue, and of course, a hearty beef stew with Guinness beer.
The commenluv link’s not working for me these days, I don’t know why.
I’ve been having trouble with comment luv. I don’t know why. I haven’t tried beer can chicken nor have I eaten any. Maybe someone will tell us. 🙂
These potatoes look incredibly good! I have got to add this to my menu for dinner! Yum!
I hope you like them, Pamela!
I love potatoes done like this, Maureen and with the dried herbs these would have gone so well with the chicken. It’s true that when they’re cooked this way they’re both soft and crunchy. Great that everyone around your table was happy. And I can’t believe there was a takeaway restaurant that was only ‘takeaway’ as long as you brought your own plate! xx
John just turned 60 so he’s before your time. This was in Melbourne – Burwood and the first Chinese takeaway near them required customers to bring their own dishes. I think it’s cute – a lot less waste!
I’m and old fashioned girl even though I like to cook all kinds of new fashioned foods. Give me good potatoes and I’m happy as a lark. These look really good!
We must be a lot alike, Chris!
I’m always looking for more potato recipes. This looks SO good, I’m thinking of making these for Christmas!
These roasted slices look very tasty. I’ve made Nigells’s coca cola ham and I was amazed how delicious it was. Smoky flavoured, with a slightly molasses taste. I’m doing all my hams this way this year. GG
I’ve always rolled my eyes but the chicken wasn’t too bad 🙂
We’re definitely not a meat and potatoes home (not only because I’m a vegetarian, ha). We rarely eat potatoes, but these sound fantastic and worth a tasty carby splurge.
I really enjoy potatoes and these are really tasty. Thanks so much for coming by, Kelly!
Dear Maureen,
“Are you nuts?” – that got me in stitches.
I love this recipe and I prefer marinating each slice and then stacking them up in a pile. The edges become nice and crispy while the inside is still soft. And there is something texturally appealing when biting into a pile of these slices.
http://chopinandmysaucepan.com/day-28-get-your-jelly-on-roasted-potato-pyramid-and-rocket-salad
I’ll try that next!
I love potato too Maureen and usually resort to cutting them some way and baking them. This is next on the list!
I hope you like them! (Liz told me that goose fat was on sale at Aldi – imagine these potatoes with goose fat??)
I love potatoes any which way!!
Theses look so yummy but I would absolutely adore them with Camembert!! YUM
We liked the Camembert ones a lot. I don’t like mashed every night and I don’t like roasted every night so it’s good to have favourites you can switch back and forth on.
Very yummy potatoes!
They were indeed!
i don’t eat enough potatoes; these and your list of faves (mashed with camembert?!) are makign me re-assess the situation!
Yeah, they are both good!
Wow, I could eat the whole portion. so crispy and perfect.
Hope you are doing great.
I could too, Ash!
“We decided we’d make these again”. Is that the Royal ‘We’ Maureen? Too funny.
really, it’s Rob. 🙂 at 93, if he likes something, I make it again for him. LOL
LOL oh no, did I teach you that phrase? I think it describes how some food is though in all honesty. 😛 Thank you for the lovely shoutout my dear 😀 BTW my phrase for these potatoes would be scrrrrumptious!
These look awful Maureen. … AWFUL FOR MY HIPS!! oh man, leave me alone with a tray and you won’t hear from me until I’m finished!
I love a nice crispy potato- yummo!
Lovely spuds, Maureen! In an earlier comment, you mentioned the addition of garlic and rosemary. That combination is divine with potatoes. Do give it a try.
These are some gorgeous potatoes! I have some in my fridge and think I might have to copy your version tonight!
Have you tried coca cola or any soda and boxed cake mix? I tried it when I was in college to go along with my ramen noodles and it was actually quite good!
Oh, these look so good!
We love potatoes. I know what I will make tonight. Thanks Maureen.
As a serious potato aficionado, these are right up my street, Maureen. I’m one of those who has perfected the “where the hell are my potatoes” look 🙂
I’m also intrigued by the chicken with coca cola sauce.
Coca-Cola chicken coming soon. I’m good at that look too, Hester!
Dear Maureen, I love potatoes roasted this way. They are crispy and you must keep eating them!! kind of like potato chips.
We never ate take out either, come to think of it I still don’t!! It is much too expensive even if I wanted to.
Blessings dear and I hope you are feeling good.
Catherine xo
These roasted potatoes look perfect…love the golden brown color and the herbs on it…indeed perfect with any meal.
Have a beautiful week Maureen 😀
Thanks, Juliana! Happy Holidays!
Potatoes that are a bit crispy on the outside and soft inside are just the way I like them. The spice mix sounds wonderful and, of course, I’m in favor of adding some garlic cloves to the pan. These would make a great side for many dishes, Maureen.
I can eat potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is such a beautiful dish..packed with flavour, crispy and guilt free. Ticks all the boxes for me. Bookmarking!
Me too! Potatoes and onions – I could live on just that.
I know these potatoes are delicious!! We had something very similar to this at Thanksgiving, but I like you slices… very pretty. 🙂
Thanks, Ramona. I’m ready to make them again.
These potatoes look so flavorful. Roasting really does wonders! I love your Christmas tree background. 🙂
love the layout of your photos! they look so hearty and festive!
Aww thanks.. I always swoon at your photos.
I love potatoes any way I can get them. Growing up though my mother only made boiled or baked. And she also used pop in brisket and baked apples. And they were both good. Well, better than her potatoes!
LOL I think we all have memories of dishes that weren’t quite right when we were growing up.
These look really good! I love potatoes!!
Pinning to my Side Dishes board.
Im a new follower. =)
Thanks, Melissa and it’s wonderful to meet you!
Bill came from a meat and potatoes family, too, so I make a LOT of potatoes. I’m going to add yours to our menu soon…they look outstanding!
I hope you like them!
Maureen, that is the NEATEST tray of baked potatoes that I’ve ever seen! And yes, that’s a great expression Lorraine taught you (and me!).. 🙂
LOL I knew I wouldn’t be the only one to steal that phrase!
H i Maureen,
Your potatoes look delicious. We like roasted potatoes as well, we always roast fingerling potatoes. I printed your recipe and lan to give it a try. thank you
I like the fingerling potato roast too!
I haven’t met anybody who doesn’t like roasted potatoes and my husband is fine with herbs instead of spices for once. Yours look perfect Maureen!
He certainly has come a long way due to your excellent cooking, Helene!
I love how nice and crunchy these potatoes look. Love the spices as well.
I haven’t met anybody who doesn’t like roasted potatoes, and my family loves this.