How do I keep my homemade bread fresh? what do you do with stale bread

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
My thoughts exactly!!

 

[Equus5O]

Quote:
ew

 

[Sequin]

Use it in French Onion Soup. Yum!

 

[LarryPQ]

Food process it, put it in the oven on low for a while, and bag up some bread crumbs in the freezer

Edited: has anyone suggested french toast?

 

[Kim_NC]

Make Toast Cups.....

Eggs In a Toast Cup - link has photo and printable version

6 slices bread
2 Tbl butter, melted
6 eggs
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease 6 muffin cups.

Slice bread, remove crust. Butter one side. Press one slice bread, butter side down, into each muffin cup so that corners come up over edges of cup. Bake at 350ºF for about 15 minutes, or until lightly toasted.

Remove from oven. Break one egg into each toast-lined cup. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with cheese if desired, dividing equally among 6 cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until eggs are set.

Other uses for the toast cups.
Instead of baking eggs in the toast cups, use them with Chicken A LA King, Dried Beef Gravy, Turkey & Gravy, etc.

Already suggested above, but I also cube up stale bread, dry cubes and use as the crust in Stratas (breakfast casseroles). I have several recipes for favorites posted in this section of my website:
http://www.millriverfarm.com/recipes.cfm?catname=Meat and Eggs

 

[Kismet]

My son gave me a 'BREAD KEEPER" for Christmas. He got it at the King Arthur Store in Norwich, Vt. It is a lucite container that adjusts for loaf size and has an air vent on one end that controls the air circulation. I have to admit I was very skeptical (but didn't let on to him). But, it really works! I had a loaf of my homemade in their over about five days and the exposed cut end didn't dry out at all. I have copied the website from the directions that came with it, in case anyone is interested in exploring it further. Since it was a gift, I have no idea how much it cost.

www.progressiveintl.com The item number is GBK-8

 

[ChikeeMomma]

I've been making croutons with mine. Here's the link to my recipe http://clutehomestead.blogspot.com/2010/01/homemade-croutons.html. I'll just stick the bread in the freezer until I have time to do it. If you read down to the bottom of the recipe, I do half the recipe for half a loaf of bread. I find that my wheat bread seems to go stale faster than the white.

Also www.tammyrecipes.com has a recipe for a homemade stuffing mix. I haven't made this yet, but it sounds good. I've made some of her other recipes and they were good.

My chickens also used to get it, but I've been making croutons. Sorry chickens!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I cube and put into plastic freezer bags for making fresh croutons for salad and soups, and also use my food processor to make bread crumbs for breading baked or fried foods and to use in recpies such as meatloaf.

 

[fisharescary]

as long as it hasn't gone completely hard, use it in fondue.

 

[sheridangirl]

I have made my bread for years and have always used shortening. I ran out a few weeks ago and I used some lard and my bread is staying fresh longer and I love the texture. I make wheat bread with 5 cups wheat and 3 cups white flour and have not tried the lard in my white bread recipes.
My chickens do love left over bread. lately I have been adding some liquid to the bread and then sprinkling with chili peppers to get them laying again. They love it and I have gone from 2 eggs per day to 12 per day....That is why I am on this site...looking for egg recipes ..YUMMMM