Jazz Up Your Salad With Bagel Croutons

Have you ever made your own croutons? If you have never, you should try it. Homemade croutons are both easy, fun and turn out much more delicious than the store bought ones. I recently put a twist on my homemade croutons by using everything bagels instead of my usual crusty croutons that I make from baguettes or ciabatta bread. Croutons are just another of the many items I used to buy regularly and now only make from scratch. Croutons take about 15 minutes of actual work. It’s an extra special and unexpected addition to help jazz up your dinner salad and your dinner guests will love them!

There are a ton of crouton variations you could make to suit your tastebuds. Try using different types of breads (whole wheat) for a healthier version and add your own favorite seasonings or flavored olive oil. This crunchy goodness can even be eaten just as a snack!

Below is the yummy recipe for my everything bagel croutons:

Everything Bagel Croutons

Ingredients:

2 bagels (everything, onion, garlic or your choice of seeded bagel) cut into 1-inch cubes

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

pinch of dried oregano

2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup of olive oil

Sea salt

Cracked black pepper

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

- In a large bowl mix the bagel cubes, garlic powder, oregano, grated cheese, salt, pepper and olive oil.

- On a large baking sheet, spread out the bread cubes into an even layer.

- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. The croutons will harden as they cool.

For maximum crispiness, use right away rather than storing in a container for another day. These bagel croutons will keep in an airtight container for a week or so. For a gluten free diet...use gluten free bagels.

Darien Resident Janine Vairo is the founder of PartyStyle Box and a contributing blogger for the Darien Patch. Janine blogs about party ideas, recipes, and party decor.

Email: partystylebox@gmail.com
Visit her website www.partystylebox.com