Crouton Dice with Blue Cheese |
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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes |
Ready In: 50 Minutes Servings: 40 |
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These sexy little bites have a flavor as sharp as Dorothy Parker's wit. And because they're toasted with butter in the oven, they taste deliciously fried (only without the regret). Ingredients:
1 pound unsliced good-quality white sandwich bread such as a pullman loaf |
3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted |
1/4 pound chilled blue cheese (preferably stilton or gorgonzola), crumbled |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
2. Trim crusts from loaf, then cut loaf into 1-inch cubes. Put cubes in a large shallow baking pan and drizzle with melted butter, gently tossing to coat. Arrange cubes in 1 layer and bake, turning occasionally, until pale golden and crisp around edges but still soft inside, 12 to 20 minutes. Cool croutons slightly in pan on a rack, then poke a hole three fourths of the way through each cube from top using large end of chopstick, making hole about 1/3 inch in diameter. Press about 1/2 teaspoon cheese into each hole, mounding slightly.
3. Just before serving, reheat croutons, cheese side up, in baking pan in a 400°F oven until warm and crisp, about 5 minutes.
4. Cooks' note: Cubes can be baked and stuffed 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered.
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