Spicy Garlic Croutons

These easy homemade croutons are a great way to add zesty crunch to salads and soup. There are no set ingredient amounts; simply season to taste.

Ingredients
French bread
Olive oil
Garlic Salt OR Garlic Powder
Ground Red Pepper OR Ground Habanero (for really hot croutons)

Preheat oven to 300F degrees. Slice bread into thick slices, about 1/2 to 1 inch thick. Brush both sides of each slice of bread with olive oil, then sprinkle each side with garlic salt or garlic powder. Then lightly sprinkle one or both sides with ground red pepper OR ground habanero pepper - sprinkling both sides will result in hotter croutons. Using a serrated bread knife, carefully cut each bread slice into 1/2 to 1 inch-wide vertical strips, then cut horizontally to make cubes. Place cubes on a baking sheet and bake at 300F degrees for 20 to 30 minutes until the cubes are dry and crisp. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container. Use within 3 days.

Variation: For spicy herb croutons, replace the garlic salt or powder with Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria