French Bread Day

Today is French Bread day and while I could share a recipe for French bread with you the truth is that I normally do not bake my own French bread but do use it quite often. Not only does it accompany many meals from soups to pastas but there are many other things you can do with it as well.

Grilled cheese is great prepared on French bread. Using your choice of cheese you can prepare same as any grilled cheese by buttering one side of 2 pieces of bread and placing cheese on inside of unbuttered bread slice put together. Grilled and enjoy

Make your own croutons for soup or salad. Cut French bread into small cubes.  Combine some olive oil, melted butter, garlic, parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, oregano and pinch of salt in a bowl.  Toss in bread crumbs and gently stir to coat bread cubes.  Arrange cubes on cookie sheet and bake at 300 degress 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. 

I love French bread for French toast after all they are from the same area. The thickness of the bread offers a more delicious taste in my opinion. Prepare by cutting bread  in desired slice size. In a bowl whisk a couple of eggs, milk and cinnamon.  Melt butter in skillet.  Dredge bread slices in egg mixture and fry until golden brown.  Top with powdered sugar and syrup or fruit your choice.

Stuffed is a delicious way to serve French bread as well. One of my best friends would prepare stuffed sausage bread at the holidays for a breakfast celebration. Cut off one end of French bread loaf (about ¼ of loaf) and scoop out the middle, leaving about an inch inside all around (you can use the scooped out middle for crutons or bread pudding btw).  Take about ½ pound of hamburger or ground steak, add desired amount of canned tomatoes, diced onion and salt and pepper and brown in a skillet.  If consistency is watery add some bread crumbs.  When browned, stuff in bread shell.  Using butter, butter the sides and top of loaf and bake in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

In a bowl, combine a couple seeded and diced medium tomatoes, about ½ of a diced onion, a clove of minced garlic, salt, pepper and extra-virgin olive oil to taste.  Place bowl in fridge.  Cut French bread into desired bruschetta size and broil in oven.  Once bread is browned to your liking remove from oven and to with tomato mixture from fridge and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  

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