A good idea!

@Fleura (30402)
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 (13027)
• Ireland
18 Oct 23
@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
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
18 Oct 23
Oh wow that sounds spectacular! Do show us some before and after photos please!
@xFiacre (13027)
• Ireland
18 Oct 23
@Fleura I certainly will, but not till I’ve told my wife what I have planned!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
@xFiacre See if you can put a mirror (or maybe a couple of mirror tiles) at the back, and some LED lights, to make all your glasses and bottle sparkle!
@Juliaacv (51230)
• Canada
19 Oct 23
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
@Juliaacv (51230)
• Canada
19 Oct 23
@Fleura I use it for making home made hamburger patties-we buy our beef by the hind quarter, so lots of ground beef to use in a variety of ways, some are made into patties.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
@Juliaacv I used some of ours to make veggie burgers with tofu and some of that chestnut puree I mentioned before.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
That sounds useful too, great for toppings and also for making burgers and things.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471547)
• Switzerland
19 Oct 23
I do the same with bread, I hate the idea to waste food. If I have too much bread I make a bread pudding and also bread gnocchi, that are really good.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471547)
• Switzerland
19 Oct 23
@Fleura It is a shame to waste food, we can really get creative.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
Yes I do like bread pudding and bread-and-butter pudding, and i sometimes make a savoury version as well.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
19 Oct 23
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 (137259)
• United States
19 Oct 23
@Fleura Yeah, there's always something you can do with extra bread.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
Next time I will know better than to refuse!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Oct 23
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
• United States
19 Oct 23
@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.
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
It certainly transforms unappealing stale bread into a very desirable snack! Gluten-free bread is expensive though
1 person likes this
@porwest (90912)
• United States
19 Oct 23
Croutons are one the best ways to get rid of bread that might otherwise go bad. Nicely done.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
I never thought of it before! I will next time though : )
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
@porwest I did, I just meant I hadn't thought of it on previous occasions.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90912)
• United States
19 Oct 23
@Fleura I thought you said you made croutons too. I know you said you made bread crumbs. Maybe I just misread.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136481)
• India
19 Oct 23
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
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
https://realbharat.org/freecycle-india-join-crowd-675/
@wolfgirl569 (106323)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Oct 23
That sounds like a good snack
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
Sometimes simple things are best, aren't they?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Oct 23
Cheesy bread would make great tasting snack croutons. It's amazing how much bread you can eat when it's really nice.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
I know, fresh bread is one of life's great pleasures isn't it? I have no intention of jumping on the 'gluten is bad for us' band-wagon - you can just give it to me!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178806)
• United States
19 Oct 23
The croutons sound yummy. I hope you have a good day.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
They were - they are almost all gone now!
1 person likes this
@seun123 (33)
• Lagos, Nigeria
19 Oct 23
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
@Fleura (30402)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct 23
Next time I will know what to do if there is too much to freeze : )