Tuscan Tomato & Homemade Crouton Salad

Unlike me, my husband is a major tomato fan, there's just something about tomatoes, I have a hard time liking them. However, I knew saying no to $0.77 a box ripe cherry tomatoes, would not be very wise. We had half of a baguette that had been sitting on the counter for two days, and we do not waste food, I'm not sharing the baguette with the birds either. The fastest way to get rid of it is to make a quick batch of homemade croutons.

It's is so easy and delish you will absolutely fall in love with it; and probably won't be buying packaged croutons anymore. Promise.


Ingredients: French baguette, cherry tomatoes, sea salt, black pepper, fennel seeds, caper, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, basil.

Tear the baguette in any shape you'd like, you can go rough or cut it neatly in cubes 

(But why cubes? so boring and predictable as Jamie Oliver said one time on his show. Agreed)

 Drizzle with olive oil, a little red wine vinegar (optional), sea salt, black pepper, minced garlic onto the dry baguette. Send in a 400F oven for 12-15 minutes until the top gets brown

Dice them

Finally, combine the croutons with diced tomatoes, capers, basil, and balsamic vinegar

 

Make sure toss them well so the croutons can suck up some of the tomato juice but you don't want them to be too soggy. That's all! I totally forgot to sprinkle some Parmesan on top, however it's just a suggestion.

The secret ingredient here is "fennel seeds", they become amazing flavor bursts when biting into them later. Dig it, pin it, make it!