Savory Bread Strips Food

SAVORY BREAD STRIPS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; set aside. In a saucepan, combine oil, onion, basil, oregano, sage and garlic powder; cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from the heat; stir in cold water. In a bowl, combine flour and remaining sugar. Stir in oil and yeast mixture. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead for 3 minutes. Place dough on a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Pat dough evenly into pan. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over dough. Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until well browned. Cut into 2x1-in. strips.

MY SAVORY AUTUMN BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• 1. Place bacon on foil-lined, sided (not flat), cookie sheet. Sprinkle with a little pepper if desired and bake for 15 minutes in preheated 375 degree oven turning once. Remove to paper towels to drain and cool. Break into bite-sized pieces. In small frying pan, saute sausage until done, breaking into dime-sized pieces as it cooks. Remove to paper towels with bacon. Pour out grease, rinse and wipe clean. Saute pears and shallots in butter and dark brown sugar, (can sub light brown), for 5-7 minutes til onions are tender and pears are still a little crisp. Remove from heat and set aside. In large (4-cup) glass measuring pitcher (or small bowl), whisk eggs well. Whisk in heavy whipping cream, salt and pepper. Slice open baguette and spread insides evenly with mustard to cover. Use a tad more if needed. Slice first half lengthwise again, hold the 2 pieces together, and slice into 1" pieces. Spray inside of a deep, 2 1/2 qt. (or larger) baking dish with butter-flavored spray (I like Crisco's), and place cut up baguette pieces on the bottom to cover. Cut up second half of baguette the same way and place into medium-sized bowl. To bowl add the sausage, bacon, shallots and pears (butter and all), and blue cheese. Toss with spoon to mix. Dump over baguette pieces in baking dish. Arrange top nicely adjusting a few pieces to make it even. Slowly pour egg and cream mixture over evenly. Place baking dish into shallow roaster. Fill roaster 1" deep with hot tap water. Bake in 350 degree oven for 50-55 minutes til knife inserted near center comes out clean and top is nicely browned and lightly crispy. Cool 5-10 minutes. Serve anytime of day for breakfast, brunch, lunch or supper! Prepare to be WOWed!
• 2. *Tip: I always cook my whole pound of bacon in the oven, use what I need, wrap the rest in a clean papertowel and freeze in a ziploc baggie for ease of future use and a one-time mess/cleanup! When you need to use some, take out how ever many strips you need, place on a sheet of papertowel and cover with another and microwave on high for 8-10 seconds until re-sizzling. Wah-lah!

SAVORY CHEESE AND CHIVE BREAD

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven; preheat oven to 350°; generously butter an 8 x 4 1/2 x 2 3/4-inch loaf pan (a Pyrex pan is perfect; if your pan is larger, go ahead and use it, but your loaf will be lower and you'll have to check it for doneness a little earlier).
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and white pepper together in a big bowl.
• Put the eggs in another bowl and whisk for about 1 minute, until they are foamy and blended; whisk in the milk and olive oil.
• Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and , using a sturdy rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, gently mix until the dough comes together; there is no need to be energetic (beating the dough toughens it); nor do you need to be very thorough, just stir until all the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Stir in the cheese, grated and cubed, the herbs, and walnuts (you will have a thick dough).
• Turn the dough into the prepared pan and even the top with the back of the spatula or spoon.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the bread is golden and a slender knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and wait for about 3 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the pan and turn the loaf over the rack; invert and cool right side up.
• Dorie suggests if serving with drinks/wine--cut bread into 8 slices, about 1/2 inch thick, and cut the slices into strips or cubes.
• Well wrapped, the loaf will keep for about 2 days at room temperature or for up to 2 months in the freezer (thaw in the wrapper).
• **This is not a very moist loaf--it is not meant to be--so it may seem a little dry after a couple of days; it is good to toast the slices.

SAVORY STRATA (BREAD PUDDING)

Steps:

• Rub olive oil on the peppers and roast them at 350 degrees for about a half hour, until they are soft and have started to color. When they are cool, slice into strips, discarding the seeds and stem. Set aside.
• Cook bacon (preferably in the microwave, between layers of papertowel). Do not overcook. The bacon should not be brittle. When cool, chop into medium sized pieces. Set aside.
• Melt half the butter, and cook the sliced mushrooms about ten minutes, until they give up their liquid. Set aside.
• Melt the rest of the butter and slowly cook the onions and garlic until they are translucent and soft. Set aside.
• This will work best with a good quality, crusty bread. Cut it into slices about an inch thick. If it's not stale, lightly toast the slices.
• Butter the bottom of a large casserole. First put down one layer of bread (break up as necessary), and then layer the following in a way that appeals to you: cheese, peppers, bacon, onions, mushrooms. You should have enough for three full layers of each ingredient, but if you don't, it doesn't matter.
• Beat the eggs with the milk, half and half, salt and pepper to taste, and the tarragon. Some people prefer basil, but I like the contrast of the tarragon to the cheese.
• Slowly pour this mixture over the layered casserole. You have to give the layers of bread time to soak up the mixture, so don't rush this. When you're finished, a finger pressed into the top should cause liquid to bubble up. If that doesn't happen, add more milk or half and half.
• Cover with a layer of grated cheese.
• Baked covered casserole in a 375 oven for about forty-five minutes. Take the lid off the casserole and bake for another twenty minutes until pressing the flat of a spoon into the top of the casserole does not cause liquid to well up. It's done when the top is crispy and browned.
• Let this sit for twenty minutes to half an hour before serving. It will be very, very hot.
• I serve this with a green salad and fruit.

SAVORY BREAD STRIPS RECIPE

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; set aside. In a saucepan, combine oil, onion, basil, oregano, sage and garlic powder; cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from the heat; stir in cold water. In a bowl, combine flour and remaining sugar. Stir in oil and yeast mixture. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead for 3 minutes. Place dough on a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Pat dough evenly into pan. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over dough. Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until well browned. Cut into 2x1-in. strips. Nutrition Facts 2 each: 88 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 129mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.