Simple ideas turn stale bread into tasty treats

Dear Readers: Don’t throw out that stale french bread! Most French bread, if not eaten the day it’s baked, will be as hard as a rock the next day! But you can turn it into something wonderfully edible.

USlice it, bake until it’s brown and hard, then sprinkle with some yummy grated cheese and let the cheese melt for a few minutes in the oven. Float the crispy, cheesy bread on top of a bowl of soup, especially onion.

UMake croutons for salads, soups or snacks. Bake French-bread cubes in a 275-degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy.

UFor a quick breakfast or light supper, cut stale bread into cubes, mix with beaten eggs and saute in a small amount of butter or margarine, as you would French toast. Serve with syrup.

UOr just slice it and make French toast, and sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Heloise

P.S.: Don’t forget our feathered friends! They would love a little day-old French bread.

Dear Heloise: I put citrus peels (orange and lemon) in a small, plastic, zippered bag and put them in my freezer. I use them to clean and deodorize my garbage disposal. Since they are frozen, they don’t get moldy. Works great for a clean-smelling garbage disposal. Patricia Conover, Grover Beach, Calif.

Dear Heloise: When I make sandwiches for my family, especially if I am making a lot, I use a tablespoon to dip into the mayonnaise and spread it on the bread — it spreads much easier than a knife. I taught my children to do this, and now all their friends think it’s cool. It works for mustard or any spread you are using. Caroline, via e-mail

Caroline, I do the same and like to use an iced-tea spoon sometimes. It has a long handle, and it’s perfect for dipping out just about anything from a container. Heloise

Dear Readers: Test your Heloise Sandwich Hint IQ: Who supposedly invented sandwiches, and why? Well, after some research, here is what we found: Legend states that the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montague, was a gambler, and so that eating wouldn’t take away from his game, it is thought that he developed the sandwich at some point in his lifetime, 1718 to 1792. So, how many sandwiches do you think are eaten every day in the U.S.? How about 300 million! Heloise

Dear Heloise: To remove the odor of onions from your hands, run your fingers under cool water while holding on to a stainless-steel knife (not a sharp one), and the smell will be gone. Promise! Give it a try. Terri Glascock, San Antonio

Dear Heloise: I have something to contribute! When putting something in the freezer that is to go out in the trash, I label it “GBG” with a black marker. The initials stand for garbage. Ruth Schilberg, Vista, Calif.

X Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate