BREAD CRUMBS.......the right bread crumbs can make all the difference in a recipe. I have no problem buying your italian seasoned bread crumbs from the shelf of a store to use in a quick meatball or meatloaf where it is incorporated into a mixture. But when your bread crumbs are on the outside of your food, they need to be stepped up to the next level!!! Do yourself a favor and make this in bulk. You can pour it into a ziplock or freezer bag and put them in the freezer. They will stay perfectly. Believe me if you have this in the freezer you will reach for these before you will reach for the packaged preseasoned crumbs. It will just make any dish more flavorful and fresh because of the fresh ingredients we will be putting in. So simple to make and will make such a difference.
Here's where I'm cheating today. Normally you would start with pretty much any bread and let it sit out on the counter and get hard or cut into cubes and toast in the oven. Then crush away. But I have a local market that will do this every day with whatever bread does not sell. They throw it into their grinder and you can buy the bags of plain bread crumbs anytime. That's a shortcut that I love. If your buying the bread anyway you might as well buy it already ground. If you are using bread you might have in your house and no use for then definitely....save some money and make your own. Either way, make a big patch and have these on hand.
BREAD CRUMBS
4 CUPS PLAIN BREAD CRUMBS 1 CUP PANKO 2 LEMONS JUICED ALONG WITH THE ZEST OF HALF OF ONE 8 CLOVES GARLIC 1/3 CUP FRESH CHOPPED PARSLEY 1/2 CUP GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE OLIVE OIL SALT & PEPPER
Place the bread crumbs in a large bowl. Start by getting your ingredients ready. Chop that beautiful parsley. Peel that delicious garlic. Add panko, parsley, minced garlic, cheese, lemon zest, salt & pepper.
Continue by adding the juice of two lemons. Then start drizzling in the olive oil. You don't want to add too much but just enough to add a bit more moisture to the mixture. Also, by adding the olive oil you will end up with a beautiful golden brown color on your food when you use them.
That's it!!! You are ready to go. You are also ready to use these in your first recipe. My Chicken Milanese!!! These crumbs really make this dish....along with the Red Roasted Peppers you will make first. Again, so easy to make but can't even put into words how fresh a dish will taste when your using fresh ingredients and not out of jars or packages. Enjoy!!