Three Ways To Use A Loaf Of Italian Bread
When you buy a loaf of Italian bread at a local bakery, you may have specific plans for it. Perhaps you're thinking about making some Italian-style sandwiches for lunch, or maybe you're thinking of providing slices of the bread to accompany a dinner such as spaghetti and meatballs. While Italian bread is ideal for these uses, there are many other ways to enjoy your loaf. Consider the following ways that you can enjoy using your Italian bread, and you may realize that you need to buy a second loaf.
Dipping In Oil
One way to use your loaf of Italian bread is as an appetizer, alongside a bowl of seasoned olive oil. People will take small pieces of the bread, dip it in the oil, and enjoy the combination of tastes and textures. This way of using the bread may seem simple, but there's a lot of value in its simplicity. You can prepare the oil with a variety of ingredients. For example, you might add hot pepper flakes and rosemary, or you may include grated Parmesan cheese and crushed fresh garlic. The crusty exterior and chewy interior of the bread pair well with the oil, making for a memorable appetizer.
French Toast
Italian bread is a perfect product for making French toast. Perhaps you're used to making this breakfast fare with a standard loaf of white or brown bread from the supermarket. Instead, try following the same series of steps, but substitute your Italian loaf instead. Some people enjoy leaving the loaf out on the counter for a day before using it for French toast, and it becomes a little firmer. Dunk piece after piece in the combination of milk, eggs, and cinnamon, fry them in butter and top them with powdered sugar and fresh berries for a tasty breakfast treat.
Bruschetta
You may also want to experiment with bruschetta, a classic Italian appetizer for which your Italian loaf will be a central ingredient. There are many different bruschetta recipes online, but they typically involve some combination of diced tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil spread onto slices of Italian bread and then even served fresh or broiled in the oven. This is an ideal appetizer for parties, because it's impressive-looking but isn't very difficult or time-consuming to make. You can even sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on top of the tomato mixture before placing everything under the broiler.
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