Trying new recipes

I tried a new recipe last night.

I don’t try recipes often, but occasionally I get a yen and hunt the internet for ideas. The funny thing about recipes is you can’t tell how good they are. Every blog brags about how good their version is, even if it isn’t. I found one that suited the ingredients I had, so I tried it.

Bad idea.

The recipe was for jicama fries. The blog said they were crispy and spicy. Well, they did have a pleasant spicy flavor because I used the same seasonings that I use on my California fries. However, the jicama gave off so much steam that the fries were never going to get crisp, even though I followed the directions and didn’t crowd them.

Raw jicama is crunchy and tangy. It’s excellent in salads and when dunked in ranch dip. Baking them did not improve their texture or flavor, so I won’t do that again. At least I won’t have to wonder if jicama fries are good. They’re not.

Do you use a lot of recipes from the internet? How do you pick a good one? Do you cook with jicama? I’d love a simple recipe that tastes good. For me, simple is essential.