The Gift of Yesterday’s Bread: Homemade Croutons

What a week it’s been… an award nomination, giveaway and a guest post.  Welcome to all my new followers and subscribers, and congratulations to Anne – there’s a Dancing Deer Signature Brownie & Cookie Medley on it’s way over to you.  If you are yet to vote for me in the Kosher Food Blog Awards, you have until January 11.  My wife returned from a business trip on Friday, Shabbat (the Sabbath, observed on Saturday) was a well-deserved lazy day at home, on Sunday we dedicated the morning to a family day out at Kansas City Zoo, and spent the afternoon diligently working to meet various deadlines.  It’s been a weekend of simple sushi and defrosting food from the freezer — not much to write about.  Tomorrow night. we’re celebrating the first night of Chanukah and there’s a feast to be had – so stay tuned to learn what we served to our Chanukah guests!

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that I am not one to buy pre-packaged food.  I tend to follow the theory that if it has more than five ingredients on the label, then it’s not actually food.  I make exceptions here and there so not to ferment my own tempeh, but my wife does make wonderful almond milk!  There are two things I will never buy.  Breadcrumbs and croutons.  There’s no reason to.

Day old bread is not trash.  Day old bread is an ingredient, and in cleaning out the freezer last night, I found three or four part-loaves of bread.  Gluten free bread from my mother’s visit.  Whole wheat bread that I made last week.  Half a loaf of challah bread that I stored.  Spelt Bread, Rye Bread and even some Pumpernickel bread.  I need room in my freezer and I need croutons for tomorrow night’s dinner… problem solved!

Either you’re reading this and thinking “of course” or you’re thinking “why do I shell out $3 – $5 a time for a box of croutons when it’s this easy”.  Either way, my blessing to you this evening is simple.  May you never buy croutons again.

Gather the following ingredients:

• Bread.  It doesn’t matter what kind of bread you have.  A medley is great!
• Olive Oil
• Garlic Powder
• Za’atar –  You can buy Zaatar here.
• Rosemary