I like to make use of every little thing I have, rather than let it go to waste, and bread is no exception.
I like to use the heels (because my family refuses to eat them!), dry or “day-old” bread, and unused hot dog or hamburger buns to make croutons and bread crumbs.
Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
Heels, buns, or bread, cut into crouton-sized pieces (aka, cut the bread into fourths and then cut out 5 chunks)
4 Tbs melted butter (or maybe a smidge more… I like butter!)
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp basil
Instructions
Heat oven to 375°. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper (trust me on this one!). Mix “croutons” and butter in a large bowl. Sprinkle with herbs and salt and mix well.
Dump onto parchment paper, and bake 15-20 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want them. Allow to cool, and then toss baked croutons in a Ziploc freezer bag (try not to sample too many!).
Homemade Bread Crumbs
Ingredients
Heels, buns, or bread, cut in half or fourths
Pinch of salt
Sprinkle of pepper
Smidge of any other herbs you want in your bread crumbs. I prefer mine plain
Directions
Heat oven to 375°. Place on a cookie sheet (no need for parchment paper this time).
Bake 10-15 minutes. Again, I like mine kinda toasty. Allow to cool and toss into a food processor. DO NOT OVER-FILL. (Trust me! It will fly everywhere!). Throw in the salt, pepper, and/or herbs.
Grind it up until it is super-fine. Store in a Ziploc freezer bag.
Both the croutons and the bread crumbs can be stored in the fridge for 5-7 days, or in the freezer for around 3 months.
Original recipes from Real Simple magazine tweaked by me.
Linked to Frugal Friday
love love it good when makeing dressing/stuffing but i have always wondered do they need to kept in the fridge or can you leave them room temperature