I have been looking forward to this column. Chips, glorious chips. One of my all-time favourites, a great British food and one of the few things (apart from a cigarette) I can't go without for any length of time. And for my North American readers, I don't mean crisps. Crisps are those salty things you get in a bag.
No, I am talking chips that go with fish, on your plate or wrapped in paper for a takeaway. My continental European readers will know them as pommes frites, but these are a totally different breed, a much more down-to-earth version, with more flesh on them, rather like a good Yorkshire lass compared to a scrawny Parisienne.
There is something extremely impressive about home-made chips. I guess in part because buying a bag of frozen ones to pop in the oven is so easy. Whenever you make the effort to knock up some chips at home you get the kind of adulation normally reserved for home-made pasta or home-made bread. Chips are much easier than either of those, and you don't even need a deep fryer as suggested in the recipe, so don't be put off by that. A friend of mine fries them in a wok and they are just as tasty. Just don't overcrowd them; they need their space, so to do them in several batches.
And this being The Green Issue, you could of course buy organic potatoes. Regardless, bring your own reusable bag to the market; it's not that difficult to start "going green".
Several years ago there was a rumour about me in the press that I would personally cut and fry customers' chips for them and then charge them 25 quid for the privilege. That was back in the days when 25 quid was a lot of money. Even so, I'd say that was cheap at the price. A hand-cut and lovingly fried chip is priceless, as you will find when you make them. You won't ever go back to shop-bought chips after this, I guarantee it, and why should you? There's nothing to chips - just get the kids to peel the spuds and off you go. But make sure they're out of the way when the oil starts bubbling. And back in good time to enjoy the first bite.
Make it yourself
Triple-cooked chips
INGREDIENTS
8 large Russet potatoes
Oil, for frying
Salt to taste
METHOD
1. Peel and cut the Russet potatoes into 1cm x 1cm x 8cm-sized chips. Rinse the cut potatoes under cold running water to remove any excess starch.
2. Place the chips into a large pot of cold water and bring to a simmer. Cook the chips until they are tender but not falling apart. Carefully remove the chips from the water with a slotted spoon, ensuring they do not break apart, and place on a tray and then into the refrigerator to cool.
3. Once the chips have cooled, cook them again in a deep fryer set to 135°C. Cook the chips in the oil for six to eight minutes or just until starting to colour. Remove the chips from the fryer and place on a tray lined with kitchen paper and cool in the refrigerator. At this point the chips can be stored in the fridge for one or two days until needed.
4. To finish the chips turn the deep fryer up to 180°C. Cook the chips in the oil for three to four minutes until they are golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper and season with salt.
SERVES 4
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Bella Fever, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Mike de Kock (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Woven, Harry Bentley, David Simcock.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Fore Left, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Rusumaat, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Art Du Val, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Beyond Reason, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
