Crusty Croutons Food

CROUTON CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• crush croutons.
• mix egg whites and parmesan cheese together.
• coat chicken in egg mixture.
• dip chicken in croutons. make sure both sides are coated.
• place on foil covered cookie sheet (with non stick spray) and bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.

CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the butter, olive oil, oregano and garlic salt. Toss with the bread cubes. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and toasted, 15 to 20 minutes.

CAESAR SALAD WITH "CRUSTY" CROUTONS

Steps:

• Put 1/4 cup of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and heat until hot but not smoking. Add 1/4 cup of the cheese to a medium bowl and set aside.
• Brush a work surface with a little oil and press the dough into a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Cut the dough into thin strips, about 1/4-inch wide. When the oil is hot, using kitchen scissors, carefully hold the dough strips, 2 at a time, over the pan and snip off 1/4-inch pieces, letting them gently fall into the hot oil (this may take several batches). Shallow-fry the dough pieces, tossing frequently with a slotted spoon, Chinese strainer or tongs, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the croutons to the bowl with the cheese and toss to coat. Continue frying and dredging the dough in the cheese until all the dough is used.
• When ready to serve, add the romaine to a large bowl, drizzle with lemon juice and add the remaining 1/4 cup oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and toss well to evenly coat the lettuce. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and the croutons and toss well until combined.
• Transfer to a serving platter and top with additional cheese, if desired.

CRUSTY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Slice bread into 1-inch thick slices. Stack several slices and cut slices into 1-inch bars, then cut bars crosswise into 1-inch cubes. Repeat with remaining slices. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium low heat. Add bread cubes and stir around well. Let cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until golden, about 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and add to salad while tossing.

CROUTON SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until toasted. Set aside to cool.
• In a medium salad bowl, mix together the cooled croutons, arugula, and pine nuts. Add the Citrus-Herb Sauce. Toss well until all ingredients are coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.
• *Cook's Note: You can also use olive bread or any plain rustic loaf in place of the rosemary bread.

CRISPY GARLIC PARMESAN CROUTONS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine the garlic and olive oil in a small mixing bowl. Let sit out at room temperature for at least 4 hours to infuse.
• Preheat oven to 300 F. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and add to a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the cheese, dried herbs, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
• Strain the garlic oil over the bread cubes, pressing the garlic with the back of a spoon to get every drop of garlicky goodness. Toss with a spatula until the bread is evenly coated.
• Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove, and stir the croutons, as the ones on the outside will cook faster than those in the center. Return to oven, and cook for 15 more minutes.
• Remove from oven, and sprinkle the last 1/4 of cheese over the croutons. Return to oven, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until browned and crunchy. Allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.