Bangin' Bread Bonanza

I make biscuits to go with our dinners often, and undoubtedly, my fiancé,  James, is making some kind of sammich out of it. So, I've crafted a few snacks and appetizers to suffice his sammich cravings.

We, like most people, love our bread. Always have, and always will. It has got to be the easiest and most versatile ingredient to work with in the kitchen. So, we're going to take a look at some of my favorite ways to use different breads.

Cheese & Herb Pizza Bread

Ingredients: (serves 1)
1 slice Italian baguette bread, or French bread, sliced thickly
1-2 tsp pizza sauce
2 tbsp mozzarella or 6 cheese Italian shredded cheese
Butter
Parsley or basil for garnish, fresh

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375* with a cookie sheet inside the oven.

2. Slice as many pieces of bread as you want to make. Spread one side of the bread with butter, then place the bread butter side down to spread the pizza sauce on it. Top with the cheese.

3. Being careful not to burn yourself, place the pieces of bread, butter side down on the hot cookie sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted and the buttered bottom is toasted.

4. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and enjoy hot.

Add your favorite toppings to make the pizza bread your own. Recommended toppings are:

Pepperoni & Cooked Sausage

Ham & Pineapple

Cooked Chicken, Mushrooms, & Spinach

Bacon, Jalapeño, & Cheddar



Also, try using different sauces. My favorite is a garlic parmesan alfredo paired with the cooked chicken, mushrooms, and spinach. Yumm-O!

Tip: Follow recipe for the cheese and herb pizza bread above, but add toppings on top of the sauce, but under the cheese before baking. May need to add an additional minute or 2 to the baking time.

This next one is not only delicious, it's so pretty to look at. I make these when James has his buddies over and they play Madden together on his Xbox One. They all love it and I look like the cool mom feeding a horde of high school boys! (Note: we are in our 30's... but, boys will be boys!)

Just look at how easy these are to make...

Jalapeño Popper Crack Bread

Ingredients
1 round loaf of White Mountain bread, (sourdough would be good too)
2 large-sized jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
4 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
1 8 oz pack of cream cheese, room temperature
1 ½ cup grated Cheddar cheese, or Mexican blend, divided
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Salt & pepper
Olive oil

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375*. Using a sharp serrated knife, slice a grid into the top of the bread- cutting down to the bottom of the loaf but not all the way through.

2. Cook the bacon and jalapenos until bacon is crisp and jalapeno is crisp-tender. Drain on a paper towel and let cool before using.

3. Cream together the cream cheese with 1 cup grated cheese, jalapeno and crumbled bacon. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, evenly (and carefully) spread the mixture into all the crevices of the bread loaf. Brush the top of the bread with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

4. Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until the cheeses are melted and golden. May broil on high (rack in the middle of the oven) for 2 minutes to get crust browned and cheese to get bubbly. Garnish with green onions after baking. Serve warm.

Spicy Hawaiian Flatbread 

Ingredients

1 Flatout brand Spicy Italian flatbread

1 slice deli ham, cut into pieces

1/4 cup pineapple tidbits 

3 slices pickled jalapeño, seeded and chopped

1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes

3 tsp pizza sauce

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375*. Drizzle olive oil on flatbread and bake flatbread on a cookie sheet in the middle of the oven for 5 minutes. 

2. Cover Flatbread w sauce and then layer the cheese, ham, pineapple, and jalapeño. Top w a little bit more cheese and sprinkle w crushed red pepper.

3. Bake for another 5-6 minutes and then broil on high for 2 minutes until cheese bubbles and edges of Flatbread turn golden brown. Cut and serve immediately.

Garlic Caprese Flatbread



Ingredients
1 Flatout brand Spicy Italian flatbread
1 clove roasted garlic, finely minced
6 leaves fresh basil, minced and divided in half
3 tsp pizza sauce
5 slices tomato slices, thin
4 slices fresh mozzarella, thin
Olive oil



Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375*. Drizzle olive oil on flatbread and bake flatbread on a cookie sheet for 5 minutes.



2. In a small microwaveable bowl, mix sauce, 1/2 of the basil, and roasted garlic and microwave for 30 seconds.



3. After par baking the crust, smother heated sauce mixture evenly on the flatbread, then place tomatoes and then mozzarella on as well. Bake for another 5-6 minutes. Broil on high for 2 minutes until cheese gets bubbly and melted. Sprinkle w remaining basil. Cut and serve immediately.

Spineta Bread Bowl

Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise

1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

1 (1.8 ounce) package dry leek soup mix

1 (4 ounce) can water chestnuts

drained and chopped 

1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

(1 pound) loaf round White Mountain bread

4 oz feta cheese crumbles

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, dry leek soup mix, water chestnuts, feta crumbles, and chopped spinach. Chill in the refrigerator 6 hours, or overnight.

2. Remove top and interior of bread loaf. Fill with mayonnaise mixture. Tear removed bread chunks into pieces for dipping. May also serve with crackers.

If you like my recipes, follow me on Facebook @ Brandee's Basics. Thanks for stopping by!