Here's a multi-step but easy and super CHEAP way to make your own. I make my own bread for these because the recipe is so easy and inexpensive and so I can put the spices in before I cook the bread!
Step 1 - Make the Bread
1. Stir in 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons each of Yeast and Kosher Salt to 3 cups of lukewarm water in large bowl
2. Add 6 and 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
3. Stir in any spice you want while stirring in the flour - I used Crushed Red Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, and Turmeric!
4. Cover the bowl with a towel and let it sit for 2-5 hours.
5. On a sheet of parchment paper, use some more flour and corn meal to separate the mixture into two loaf pans that have bee sprayed with cooking spray. (I use organic olive oil spray.) You do not have to knead this bread!
6. Bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes.
7. Left the loaves cool completely. Then cut into slices.
8. Cut them into squares and freeze. When it's time to use them on your salad, then put them on a baking sheet and cover with Garlic soaked olive oil. Heat them just enough to soak in the garlic and oil and then get toasty and crunchy. Then let them cool down before throwing them on the salad.
My recipe makes a very spicy crouton. You may want to change the spices used depending on your taste.
I use the garlic at the end so that it is as fresh as possible. Garlic is so good for you - and all the better if it's fresh!
This recipe makes about 6 plastic sandwich bags of croutons - enough for at least 12 salads. And the total cost is significantly less than one pack of croutons at the store!
Personally really don't care for croutons and think it would be a waste of some really AWESOME bread! Wow, butter that up fresh and hot from the oven...
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yes, I use it as plain bread too - in an earlier post (see "bread" label to the right) I give the link for the recipe. It's so good when it comes fresh from the oven with some butter on it!
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