Homemade croutons...


Yummy, crunchy croutons.  Who doesn't love 'em?  That's usually everyone's favorite part of a salad, right?  Well, why buy premade croutons when you can make your own?

 First, choose the bread you want to use.  Here I used whole wheat bread, but I have also used day-old rolls,  French bread, or white bread.  Cut them up into the size croutons you and your family like.


Here's where you get creative- spices.  Salt and pepper are needed for whatever other spices you choose.  Today I used Parmesan cheese and garlic powder.  Use whatever favorite flavors your family prefers and sprinkle about a teaspoon of each over all your cut up bread.



We LOVE garlic in our family and always make sure we use TONS of it.

After you've added the spices you like, drizzle olive oil over the bread cubes.  Start off with 3-4 T and, using your hands, toss the bread cubes around, making sure that all the bread is covered in oil.  The spices that you added earlier will be tossed around, too, to make sure they are more evenly distributed.  If the bread still looks too dry, then add a little more oil and toss. 


Here they are!  All ready for the oven!


Bake at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes, taking them out to toss them around in the pan every 10 minutes.  Watch closely to make sure that they do not burn.  You want your croutons nicely browned all over, but not burned. 


Mmmmmm!!!!  The finished product!!  Yummy, crunchy, flavorful, homemade croutons!!