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Tuesday 1 October 2013

Quick, Cheap & Easy Crackers

Avoiding packaged foods has presented a few challenges over the last year.  Crackers is one of them. Company drops in and you just want to whip out some cheese and crackers.  I've been meaning to find an acceptable substitute and, when my sister said her husband didn't want to give up his saltines with soup, I figured I'd better get on it and maybe we can convert him.

This was so quick and easy to do and tasted just as good after being frozen.  

I picked up a loaf of day old french bread for $1 and sliced it into very thin rounds. ~


Brush the slices with olive oil and herbs.  I used the pesto I had made from extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, sea salt, pepper and basil.  Those little, frozen cubes of pesto are a true kitchen lifesaver! To find out how to make and freeze pesto click here. Grate a little Parmesan cheese on top if the mood strikes you.

Spread the bread slices out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and put under a preheated broiler.  I did mine on the toast/broil setting in a toaster oven and they were done in 6 minutes.  ~


You don't want to over bake them.  Just as they are getting a golden sheen and are a little crisp is the perfect time to take them out of the oven.  Otherwise, they'll be as hard as those jaw breaking mini toasts they sell in a bag.  Cost wise, they were $1 + oil and herbs.  A similar product at the grocery was $2.35.  If you freeze them, they thaw almost instantly.

Plate them up with some cheese, dip or hummus and you are ready to go. ~


Are you saying, "Please tell me those herbs didn't come from the planters that the chickens are roosting on!"? ~


Gertie says, "Mind your own business.  I want to see what is going on in the house!". ~


Gertie never loses faith that, if she pecks at that glass long enough, I'll eventually let her in.  If the kittens keep clawing that screen door, she'll be able to waltz right in!

16 comments:

  1. I always wonder what to do with the left over bread and you know I love bread. Great idea, never thought to make crackers. Awesome.

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  2. yum! I make crackers from sliced pita bread too. Good with chili. :) Your chickens are as curious as mine. Belle, our red chicken, has decided to come up on the deck and lay her eggs in one of my flower boxes. Works out great, because all I have to do is step outside the kitchen door to collect the eggs, but.......she's ruined the mums planted there. Love my girls! :)

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  3. I love hearing the stories of your menagerie, lol. Great idea to sub for crackers. The freezing makes them so convenient. I can't have crackers in the house because I get obsessive about them, not stopping my eating until the whole box is gone. This would likely work for me (or I'd chip a tooth on them out of the freezer)

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  4. I want to be the company you serve this to. Looks delicious. Maybe Gertie wants a bite :)

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  5. Good idea Maureen. I like to buy day old bread and use it for different things too.

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  6. Really good idea Maureen ... doubt that I could convince Mr. Z. to give up his club crackers.
    I could try. I love crispy bread.
    Chicks are looking pretty.
    Audrey

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  7. This is a great idea Maureen. Oh, those chickens are kind of cute the way they are posed. Do you actually let them in the house?

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  8. It isn't as though the chickens don't take up so much time, but you added painting 3 rooms ! And the coop is waiting too ? Maureen, love your gathered produce and chickens. I just had such a lovely read backwards through several of your posts. Thank you.
    Joy

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  9. I'm sure they would go much better with soup than crackers, they look delicious.
    Your chickens are as inquisitive as my dog, I'd never imagined them to be like that. I hope Ann is ok !

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  10. Oh yum, they're going on my list, I'm already planning o make the basil pesto cubes, way better than saltines.

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  11. Great idea Maureen! I usually just make croutons with my leftover bread..but I'm trying this next time!

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  12. chickens. think they can just go anywhere. :) Looks very yummy.

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  13. That sounds good to me, Maureen. REALLY good! Love that your girl just doesn't give up---and you wouldn't have her any other way! xo Diana

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  14. These homemade crackers look divine, Maureen, and they couldn't be easier, (or cheaper!). That Gertie is one feisty gal, but you gotta love her for her persistence and spunk! I do!

    Poppy

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  15. SO cute that your chickens come to the back door. And the crackers look delish!

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  16. Just tried this with sun-dried tomato bread that was in the freezer from some previous meal and wow, oh, wow,...absolutely delicious. Dipped them into homemade baba ghanoush. To die for.

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