Homemade Croutons

Is it just me, or do croutons at the store seem way over priced? I think they are and decided to try my hand at making my own. You can use any bread that you may have on hand - stale bread works great - and enjoy yummy croutons at a fraction of the cost.

Virtually any kind of seasonings can be used - experiment to see what your family likes!

Ingredients:
4 cups bread cubes
4 Tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 Tablespoons dried basil
2 Tablespoons dried thyme
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 35oF.
2. Warm butter until melted on stove top or in microwave. Add garlic and seasonings and mix well. Add bread to mixture and toss to coat all the cubes.
3. Transfer to baking sheets, spreading bread out in a single layer, and cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown.
4. Cool completely and serve. You can also store in an airtight container or freeze until needed.

*I like to double or triple the batch and store it.

*If you use a strong-tasting bread, like homemade whole wheat bread, I find you have to increase the seasonings to get a good flavor.