Do your children hate to eat the heels of the bread loaves? Quit fighting over the heels and let them dry out. Then put them in the blender and turn them into bread crumbs. Not only do you keep your bread from going to waste, you save money over buying bread crumbs in the grocery store. Bread crumbs cost $2-2.50 for approximately 2 ½ cups but yours will be almost free.
Here’s the latest trend in packaged food: flavored bread crumbs. They are tasty but oh so expensive—$3.50-4.50 for a box that holds about 2 ½ cups. But you can make your own for just pennies. Start with the basic recipe and just add the spice or herb of your choice.
Basic Flavored Bread Crumbs
3 C bread crumbs
3 Tbsp melted butter or olive oil
Your choice of spice or herbs below
Pour butter or oil over the bread crumbs, mix in spices or herbs and stir until well-blended. Store in airtight container up to six weeks or on the freezer for six months.
Ranch Style
3 Tbsp powdered ranch dressing
Good on chicken breast and as a topping for casseroles.
Cajun
1-2 tsp Cajun spice
Try this on pork chops or as a coating for Salisbury steaks.
Lemon Pepper
2 Tbsp Lemon Pepper
Yummy on chicken, turkey breast or fish.
Italian Herb
1 tsp each: dried oregano, basil, rosemary
2 tsp dried parsley
¼ tsp garlic powder
This is good breading for chicken, baked zucchini or eggplant or as a topping on Italian pastas.
