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| Herbs and Breads |
by Brenda HydeHerbs and bread are such a natural combination, whether savory or sweet. You can take a nice basic wheat or white bread recipe and add a tablespoon of mixed dried or fresh, minced herbs to the dry ingredients. Try using basil, thyme, sage and oregano. I also like to add a little bit of sugar and some Parmesan cheese to the basic recipe. You can add herbs to pizza dough-even the simple box mixes come alive if you add herbs and a touch of sugar and cheese! Try adding minced herbs to a plain scone recipe, or throw in some chopped chives and oregano into your cornbread mix. Herbs can be used with sweet breads as well. Add fresh lavender blooms or a few finely minced lavender leaves to your favorite sweet breads, such as Sally Lunn. You can also add any of the lemon herbs to bread, cake and cookie recipes-simply mix and add to the dry ingredients. Here are a few easy recipes to try: Easy Herb Pizza Ingredients: 4 boxes or envelopes of pizza crust mix (Jiffy or Martha White) One teaspoonful of mixed dried herbs-basil, oregano or rosemary About 2 tablespoons of Parmesan Cheese Dash garlic powder Pizza Sauce and toppings Mix the dough according to box directions but BEFORE adding liquid mix in the herbs, garlic and cheese. Mix and form into a loose ball with your hands that you've coated in Olive Oil. Let it rest 5-10 minutes. Press into two 12 inch pizza pans-half for each one. Top with sauce, toppings and cheese. Bake at 450 degrees until the cheese is melted and bubbly. ~*~ Herbed Croutons Ingredients: Day old homemade or bakery bread Olive Oil minced fresh herbs of your choice For every 2-3 cups of cubed bread, drizzle olive oil over the cubes and sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of minced herbs (or 1 tablespoon dried) on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees, stirring and watching often, about every 5 minutes until crispy. Use in salads and soups. ~*~ Easy Focaccia Ingredients: Premade pizza crust Olive Oil Parmesan Cheese Fresh, minced herbs Preheat oven according to crust directions. Drizzle the crust with olive oil, sprinkle with a tablespoon of minced herbs. Rosemary also works well by itself but use sparingly! Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake. This can be used with a meal, or as a snack. These are easy, easy recipes to start you on your way to using herbs with bread, but be sure to try your own combinations and experiment with your favorite recipes! |