Easy Homemade Bread Crumbs (Plain & Italian Style)

Homemade bread crumbs are easy to make
and the filled the kitchen with a wonderful aroma.

Ingredients:

1 loaf of sourdogh or whole wheat bread (about 12 slices)

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (optional)**

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*.

Place as many slices of bread as will fit on a large baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes. Turn the slices over and bake for another 7 minutes. Place the dried bread on apaper towels to cool. Repeat until all of the bread is baked.

Tear 4 slices of the dried bread into pieces and place in the bowl of a food processor. For Italian bread crumbs, also add a 1/2 teaspoon of the seasoning. Process until the bread becomes crumbs. Return the crumbs to the baking sheet. Repeat until all of the bread is processed. Sprinkle any remaining seasoning.

Return the crumbs to the oven for 4 minutes. Stir and return to the oven for another 3 minutes.***

Allow the crumbs to cool completely on the pan. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 months. Makes about 7 cups of bread crumbs.

**For plain bread crumbs, omit the seasoning.

***This is an important step to ensure that the crumbs are properly and completely dried.

Notes: 

Everything homemade tastes better than store bought ~ even bread crumbs! (Probably because there are no chemical additives.)

These easy to make crumbs can be sprinkled on top of casseroles or vegetables and topped with a drizzle of melted butter. Place in a 350* oven to crisp for 10 minutes for a delicious topping to dress up a main dish or side. Also good on top of  macaroni & cheese.

They also are perfect to use in recipes that call for breading like chicken or fried pickles and tomatoes.