Wednesday 3 October 2007

Heel to What?



This week, at Shannon's Works for Me Wednesday, posting is in a backward direction. Rather than post a tip, we are asked to post questions and solicit the tips from all you Internets.
Mine's gonna be rather elementary, yet something that plagues me every morning! Here we go:
Do you use the heel of the bread loaf for lunch sandwiches? And if you don't, what can be done with them?


Firstly, I personally don't enjoy the heel as a slice on my sandwich. Maybe it is something with Irish loaves? Are they thicker than US loaves? I can't really remember homemade sandwiches back in good 'ol USA--probably because that was before DH and children, before the time where I got up a dark o'clock to make 11 sandwiches for lunches. We use mostly wheat and grain bread, so the heels are chunky. Anyway, if I'm not going to eat it, I don't like subjecting it on others.

Secondly, when was the last time the deli man served up a gorgeous yummy sandwich between two crusty heels? If you want crust, you go for the roll, man!

And because it kills me to throw away food, I freeze these heels waiting for some devine intervention telling me what to do with them. Hopefully it's in the form of your comments!

Ideas anyone? I've tried making croutons, but wasn't wow'ed, maybe I have a blah recipe. Or maybe I should make this yummy looking bread pudding over at Pioneer Cooks? Anybody got a good process for making bread crumbs? Now that would be great! I've tried but again, my efforts flopped!

What about you all? What do you do with your bread heels?

15 comments:

Amy said...

I make breadcrumbs in the blender. Break up the slices into four or five pieces, then blend until they get crumby. You can do it with fresh or frozen bread.

Anonymous said...

uh...duck food? ( I know, we're not supposed to feed the ducks, but...the kids love it and the ducks are a lost cause in Killaloe, they are all addicted to human food!)

Was going to say croutons...

Unknown said...

The heels make great croutons or bread crumbs.

Cindee said...

I let the heels sit out until they are very dry then I save them in a container to make bread crumbs later. To make the bread crumbs I put a few heels into a previously used ziploc-type bag and crush them with a roling pin. That usually destroys the zip-bag and I toss it at that point. Makes great crumbs.

Sherry said...

thanks I plan on trying that!

Amy said...

Ours mostly become bird food-- frozen for my DH's grandma, who loves to feed the birds.

I've also used them for my DD's sandwiches (age 4)-- she doesn't mind them if they're flipped inside out (crusty part inside the sandwich).

Mrs. Patton said...

I make the outside of the loaf the inside piece. SO if I was making a peanutbutter sandwich I would spread peanutbutter on the "Brown" side! My children have never caught on! They think they are eating a normal piece because they never see the brown side!

Kara said...

I give them to my little boys cuz they don't care and love bread lol.

Heather said...

Inside out - I agree. Also, stuffing! There are some great egg casseroles that use cut up bread in them too.

TexasTanya said...

We usually don't eat them, but our dogs like them as an occasional treat. :)
I keep the first heel in the bag with the bread until we finish the bread. I find that it helps to keep the slices moist and soft. The heel will dry out some, but not the slices.

dollya said...

Besides croutons andCrumbs I also turn them upside down and have the Heel part face inside the sandwich :)
It is less noticable :)

elaine@bloginmyeye said...

I actually enjoy the heel for a toasted sandwich, extra crunchy and delish.

Barbara_Talbot said...

If I just want toast, I like it. Otherwise I wait until there are only both heels left in the bag and then make a sandwich relishing the martyrdom of being the only one in the house frugal enough to do so.

When I was a young boy I didn't care that much for my Mom's whole wheat bread for sandwiches, but it was so good if you caught a heel fresh sliced off a loaf still warm from the oven and spread with honey. yummy!

The Gossiper said...

French toast/eggy bread? Its not the greatest french toast, but it works well for baked french toast which you can cut into sticks and freeze fast food style.

Kate North said...

Well, as much as I'd love to be the Domestic Goddess on this one, I have to confess, mostly mine go to the birds. On a freshly baked, crusty loaf, of course, we tend to eat the heel first - but that's a whole different story :)