A good way to use up old bread. Use these croutons on salads, in soup, or as a snack. Stored in an airtight container, they'll stay spicy-crisp and tasty for a long time.

Chop the bread into small cubes about 1/2 inch. Mix the spices together in a large bowl. For your first batch, start with the smaller amounts of spices, then move up as desired. We like the full amounts, which makes them pretty spicy, but usually a small handful on a salad or in a bowl of soup is all that's required for great taste. Melt the butter and oil together. Place the bread cubes into a clean brown paper bag. Pour in the oil and butter and seasoning mixture. Roll the bag closed and shake to coat the bread cubes. Put on a baking sheet and place in a warm oven, 170°, to dry and crisp the croutons. Bake about one hour–no need to stir. Store in an air tight container.

Prep. time: 10 minutes.
Cooking time: 60 minutes