A good idea!
By Fleur
@Fleura (29200)
United Kingdom
October 18, 2023 4:35pm CST
Last week someone offered some loaves of cheesy bread on Freegle. These she had received from a supermarket, left over at the end of the day, to pass on to locals through the Olio app, but she still had six loaves left.
Well as it happened this person had just asked if she could have some plants I had on offer, and I said if she was coming over and still had bread left I could use a couple of loaves. She asked if I could take all six, but I just didn’t have capacity. Normally I would freeze bread, but our freezer was full, although I thought if I made breadcrumbs I could probably squeeze a bagful in.
Then I had a bright idea – I could make croutons! They wouldn’t need to be frozen, just kept in an airtight container, so space wouldn’t be an issue. So I chopped up one and a half of the loaves (made breadcrumbs with the rest, for a crunchy topping on a vegetable bake) and baked them in the oven on a low heat.
We used some of them with soup on a couple of evenings, and kept the rest in an air-tight tub. But actually they were so tasty that my partner and I kept snacking on a few so now they are almost all gone!
I should have said yes to all six loaves! I did suggest the crouton idea to the lady who gave them to me so maybe she made some too. Neither of us wanted to see good food go to waste!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.
11 people like this
11 responses
@xFiacre (12622)
• Ireland
18 Oct
@fleura You’re so annoyingly full of good ideas that actually work. I am about to re-designate an old writing desk I have as a present to myself when I move into my new house. I’m making it into a bar. One of those bureau type desks where the front door drops down for an elegant lady to lean on as she writes thank you letters and letters of regretful declining to unsuitable suitors. It’ll be all lacquered in gaudy reds, oranges and black with a bit of lime green. Now sure yet what name to give it.
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (48511)
• Canada
18 Oct
That was a good use of the bread.
I bought some turkey bread, used to stuff the turkey at Thanksgiving, it has a little seasoning in it and it was on sale for only 94 cents.
I grated up the bread and made enough bread crumbs to last us for months.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
18 Oct
Once in a while I will eat croutons by themselves while I'm reading. I have to be careful and put the ones I will eat in a separate bowl or I might eat the entire container without realizing I've eaten that much... Pretty loves croutons on her salads so we usually have several different flavors in the cupboard.
You should have asked for all six loaves.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
19 Oct
@Fleura Yeah, there's always something you can do with extra bread.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
19 Oct
i miss the days 'f folks swappin' 'n sharin', not certain that sorta thingy still goes'n these parts?? surely 't does?
i'd the need to giggle 'bout snackin' 'pon those croutons. i made some whilst 't the daughters near a year 'go. 'd plans fer homemade stuffin' fer the holidays. 'd made 3 loaves 'f gluten free bread fer such. the son'nlaw 'twas not keen'n the idea so i asked him to taste one. big mistake coz 'pparently he's a night snacker 'n by the next morn, not e'en a handful remained!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
19 Oct
@Fleura most certainly 'n such 'tis not wasted. yes ma'am, spendy schtuff 's the gluten free flours 're high priced. i'm thinkin' to try sprouted wheat flour. 'tis said not to be a bother to folks with celiac disease. dunno, e'en that 'tis spendy schtuff fer a trial run.
@allknowing (130072)
• India
19 Oct
You are innovative indeed. I wish we had that barter system here as well. I have so many plants to give away.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156802)
• United States
19 Oct
The croutons sound yummy. I hope you have a good day.
1 person likes this
@seun123 (33)
• Lagos, Nigeria
19 Oct
Wow, that's so cool! Making croutons from the cheesy bread sounds like a yummy idea. It's great that you and the lady found a clever way to use up the bread. Maybe next time you'll be able to take all six loaves and make even more tasty treats!
1 person likes this
