Impress your friends and family with these homemade croutons that top this lovely Bibb lettuce salad. Making homemade croutons is a great way to use up a loaf of day old bread. You can add your own spices and they toast up in about 5 minutes! This salad is so light and works as a delicious accompaniment to virtually any dinner. The amounts listed below make 4 individual salads, however, you can increase the amount and place all ingredients in a large bowl to serve more than 4 people.

Spiced Croutons Ingredients

• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. parsley flakes

Method of Preparation

1. Cut about 6 slices of bread into 1 inch cubes.
2. Mix all dry spices with the olive oil and toss together with the bread cubes. Make sure each cube gets coated evenly with the spices and olive oil.
3. Place cubes on a baking sheet covered in non-stick tin foil and bake 5 to 7 minutes at 350F or until golden brown.
4. Use them as salad toppers. Store any leftover croutons in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Salad Ingredients  (Yield: 4 individual side salads)

• 12 whole pieces Bibb lettuce (divide evenly amongst salads)
• 2 oz. goat cheese (1/2 oz. per salad)
• 3 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled (divide evenly amongst salads)
• 12 cherry tomatoes, halved (3 per salad)
• 4 tbsp. roasted corn* (divide evenly amongst salads)
• 3 tbsp. chopped red onion (divide evenly amongst salads)

Dressing

• 1/4 c olive oil
• 2 tbsp. raspberry balsamic vinegar

Method of Preparation

1. Place 3 whole Bibb lettuce pieces on a small plate and top with remaining ingredients listed. Ingredient totals are for 4 salads. You will have to divide the total listed per salad.
2. Whisk together the olive oil and raspberry balsamic vinegar and drizzle on top of the salad.
3. Top with the spiced croutons. (See above recipe).

*For roasted corn, you can take a can of corn, drain it, and place it on a tray with non-stick foil and a little salt. Bake for about 10 minutes in a 350F oven. You can also purchase fresh corn on the cob, boil, and shave the kernels. The kernels will keep in the freezer for 3-6 months and can be used for a variety of different recipes.

Enjoy!