Capital: Ottawa

Population 34.7 million (UN, 2012)Area 9.98 million sq km (3.85 million sq miles)

Major languages English, French (both official)

Major religion Christianity

Life expectancy 79 years (men), 83 years (women) (UN)

Currency Canadian dollar

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Poutine

Dish of the Week

The Ingredients

For homemade fries:3-4 large potatoesWaterFrying oilFor the gravy:3 tbsp cornstarch 2 tbsp water6 tbsp unsalted butter1/4 Cup flour20 oz beef broth10 oz chicken brothPepper to tasteTopping: 1 1/2 cups white cheddar cheese curds( you can substitute torn chunks of mozzarella cheese)

The Recipe

For the fries: peel your potatoes and cut them into about 1/2 inch thick sticks, then place in a large bowl and cover completely with cold water. Let that sit for at least one hour or more. When they’re ready to cook heat your oil to 300F. Remove potatoes from the water and blot them with a paper towel, removing as much moisture as possible. Add the potatoes to the oil and fry for about 5-8 minutes, just as they are starting to cook, but not brown yet. Now remove them and place on a wire rack and turn your oil up to 375F. Now place potatoes back in oil and fry until golden brown.* For the gravy: place the cornstarch and water in a bowl and set aside. In a pan melt the butter, add the flour and cook, stirring regularly for about 5 minutes, until golden brown. Add both broths, stir, and bring to a boil. Stir in the cornstarch and simmer for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Season with pepper. Taste and add salt if necessary.In a clean bowl place your fries and season with a little salt. Now pour some gravy over the fries and toss. Add more gravy until the fries are coated. Add the cheese curds and mix those into the fries and gravy. Serve hot! *I made the fries from this recipe, but missed the step to fry them a second time, which resulted in my fries being soggy. So, if you make these fries don’t miss that step! If I made this again, I would honestly used pre-made fries.

Jeremiah’s Rating: 6 of 10

” I liked the fries and gravy together. It was different but good. The fries were a bit soggy but the taste of the gravy made up for that. I’ve never had cheese curds before, and honestly didn’t like them that much. I would sprinkle on some provolone or mozzarella next time we eat this”

Stacie’s Rating: 9 of 10

“This was absolutely delicious! Probably my favorite so far! It would have gotten a 10, but I wasn’t a fan of the cheese curds! But the homemade gravy was creamy and delicious! Although the fries were soggy, they tasted very good! ”