Leftover breads

Never throw leftover bread away! One obvious use for it is to make bread crumbs. Bread crumbs keep almost forever in a freezer bag in your freezer. I keep them unseasoned because I never know what they'll be used for--might be in the bottom of a fruit pie or they might find their way into a meat loaf, so I like to keep all my options open.

If crumbs seem to have gone a bit (more) stale in the freezer, spread them out on a baking sheet and toast them in a 325 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

Stale bread makes the best bread pudding! Any kind of bread will do (except something really savory like an onion bread). The richer the bread, the richer the pudding. We're having bread pudding for dessert this evening made with three very stale croissants....milk, eggs, dried mixed fruit (that's been soaking in white wine for several hours), some cinnamon, a little butter. A dollop of ice cream or whipped cream on warm bread pudding...comfort food at its finest.

One of my very favorite things to do with stale bread is make Italian Bread Salad--or Panzanella. If the bread is rock-hard stale, soak it in water for about 5-10 minutes and then squeeze as much water out as possible. This sounds really weird, but it works. It will refresh the bread and make it crumble really well, without making it soggy. Trust me. If your bread isn't yet rock hard stale, just cube it and let the dressing soak in. Add onions, the best tomatoes you can find, red wine vinegar, good olive oil, some fresh basil, and you've got a great side dish or lunch. Feel free to shave some good quality Parmesan or Romano cheese over this and some freshly ground black pepper....

Don't forget stuffings--they aren't just for the holiday bird. Stuffing is a great way to use stale bread and a welcome change from potatoes, pasta, and rice. Besides, if you find your family rebels if you stray from the tried-and-true for the holidays, making stuffing at other times during the year gives you a chance to experiment with different flavors and ingredients.

Finally, if you're lucky enough to have a lake nearby with ducks, you can always take your leftover stale bread and a good book (or small children if you have them!) and spend a lazy afternoon with nature!