CROUTON DICE w/BLUE CHEESE

By BobD

Ingredients

• YIELD 40-50 PIECES
• 1 lb unsliced good-quality white sandwich bread such as a pullman loaf
• 3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 lb chilled blue cheese (preferably Stilton or Gorgonzola), crumbled
• SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: a chopstick

Details

Servings 40
Adapted from gourmet.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400F with rack in middle.

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.

Just before serving, reheat croutons, cheese side up, in baking pan in a 400F oven until warm and crisp, about 5 minutes.

COOKS NOTE: Cubes can be baked and stuffed 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered.