Today, I learned…
- I can hear my kitchen weep after long baking days (or is that me?).
- Trying (and failing) to get rid of a huge spider in the basement and injuring your toe in the process is a little something called Karma.
- I will always feel a twinge of fear when I go into the basement.
- It is possible to eat a whole tub of hummus in 1 day.
- It’s best to pretend that my neighbours can’t see me when I’m photographing my breakfast outside in my robe and slippers.
- Hummus will always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and should be a food group (see above).
- New Wal-Mart slippers make me happy. Very, very happy. Even if Eric laughs at me.
- I want to invent thigh-high slippers for Northern climates. Slippers are fun and all, but I’m still freezing.
- Sketchie steals all my bobby pins and hair elastics and drops them down the heat vents.
- Making delicious homemade croutons is much easier than I thought!
It has been far too long since I have had homemade croutons on a salad! What gives?
Homemade Croutons
Endlessly customizable.
Adapted from here.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Loaf of fresh Italian or sourdough bread, sliced and cut into 1/2-1 inch pieces
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Earth Balance OR olive oil (I prefer taste of Earth Balance on these though), melted
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp Vegan Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried Parsley
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Kosher salt, to taste (I used about 1/2-3/4 tbsp I think)
Directions: Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Mix together the melted Earth Balance/butter, granulated garlic, paprika, oregano, and pepper in a large bowl. Add in cut up bread pieces and mix well making sure that the bread cubes are evenly coated. Season generously with salt, to taste. Arrange the croutons in a single layer on a baking tray and bake for 15 to 24 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Let cool. makes about 3 cups worth (I used 1/2 loaf of bread).
I only used half a loaf of Italian bread because I wanted to save the rest to make homemade sandwiches to go with our salads.
Slice it up, whatever size you desire!
Cut into however big you like your croutons! I was going for huge ones today. :)
Mix into sauce.
Taste. Mmmm. Adjust seasonings. Mmm.
I like my croutons a bit chewy in the middle so I only cooked them for 15 minutes at 375F.
Today, I also learned that I advanced to Round #6 of Project Food Blog….a big THANK YOU for your votes!!! :) My heart was in my throat as I scrolled down the page to see if I advanced.
Onward to Challenge #6- a packed ROAD TRIP MEAL- that is due Sunday.
What did you learn today?