Who knew something as simple as a hunka bread could make a salad tastes so darn good?
Matt brought home some Popeye last night, which I tore into pieces and toasted – a new twist on the classic cube of a crouton!
Served over olive-oiled arugula with carrot, pepper and celery plus pecans and cheese and garbanzos.
Plum(b) on the side
And sparkling water spiked with coconut water…heavenly mixture that really confused my tongue it was a pina colada for a sec…
Obsessed with Pandora Film Scores – let it be your afternoon soundtrack!
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
Those plums look amazeeee!
You always seem to make your salads look so fantastic, no matter what the toppings are! I’m sure the bread added a lot – quality bread can add so much to any meal.
I listen to it ALL DAY at work!
Your salads are always so beautiful! They put mine to shame!
That Popeye bread looks awesome – love that is has spinach in it! I just found out that we have a Great Harvest in Chicago and am headed there this afternoon. Maybe some homemade croutons are just what I need to jazz up my salads.
Molly, you found a Great Harvest in Chicago??? I thought they were all in the suburbs, please, let me know the location, would love to check it out!
Great way to use bread before it goes bad!
Plums are yummy!
Your drink looks refreshing!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I love the color of plums…they match the leaves outside right now. I haven’t tried that Pandora station…going to check that out!
You always have the must delicious looking salads. . . I keep telling myself that I need to create one of them sometime!
You make the best-looking salads!
I feel like I could have guessed shredded Great Harvest bread would make a salad delicious! But it might SPECIFICALLY apply to Great Harvest bread…
Looks delicious!
Love those white bowls! Where are they from?
They are Pampered Chef – were a wedding shower gift
Thanks! I wonder if PC still makes something similar …
Bread makes EVERYTHING so much better
Oh! And– I was listening to Pandora’s HALLOWEEN film scores station this morning as I graded papers!! It’s great for this time of year!
Ooo. Listening to Pandora Sting station right now. Think I will need to move over to the Halloween Film Scores. Thanks for the tip.
Reminds me how I keep meaning to make a Panzanella Salad. Think I may do that for din din tonight.
What a great idea—toasted cubed bread!! SOunds delish atop a salad
Yeah, they’re called croutons. Revolutionary.
Ahh, but these were not in the classic cube shape.
Genius!!!!!! I never would have thought of irregular shaped croutons!!!!!
They’re more unique than snark, at least.
Actually, croutons and snark probably originated around the same time.
“Thrifty cooks have been finding creative ways for using up stale bread since the beginning of time.”
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodbreads.html#croutons
Yummm popeye bread!!!!
Oh man! I need to try that coconut water + sparkling water combo!
Coconut water doesn’t taste like coconut – you’ve been warned. It will taste like water with a hint of weird- coming from someone who loves coconut water.
Beautiful photos! Love the second photo with the close up.
Great salad! Good bread definetly makes the best croutons
Big chunks of bread totally make a salad over the top amazing! I’ve also started chunking up socca when I don’t have bread around. It is so good!
I never think about making croutons for a salad – it’s such a good idea though!
We can’t listen to pandora in New Zealand
not fair!
Love that bread! I’ve made croutons in the oven before but not the impromptu toasted type…new ideas for the salad arsenal! Thanks
Remind me, how did we live before Pandora? Could I workout without Pandora? Remember mixed cassette tapes? I can across a tape not too long ago in my attic. My eight year old said, “What the heck is that?” I explained. She replied, “why didn’t you listen to your iPod?” So cute. How technology has changed us in the simple ways.
I’ll take a pina colada for a sec.
Or for longer than a sec.
I opened up “Film Scores Radio” in Pandora and got Forest Gump…… LOVE THIS IDEA!!!! Nice addition to my Pandora =))))
That salad looks so, so good right now. I just overdosed on chocolate and am in desperate need of a vegetable. haha
my friend introduced me to film scores last year – she said it was great study music! Haha I kept getting distracted by the harry potter ones…
I’m a HUGE fan of tearing up bread to put in soups – makes them a little thicker, adds a little more texture, and I’m generally always in favor of adding carbs to things. That popeye bread takes croutons to the next level!
Miss Kath, I’m wondering about your protein intake – mine is far higher than yours, and I can’t seem to get around the idea that I need 10-15g+ per meal to feel “satisfied.” Some of yours I think are less than 10 (from my eyeballing, I can’t really tell)…do you think it’s not as big a deal as it used to be made out? Just curious what you thought.
This mean was on the lower side. Some math:
Chickpeas – 6g
Popeye – 5g
Pecans – 1-2g
Cheese – 4g
Veggies – 1g?
=17 grams
I actually did ponder an egg for some more high quality proteins, but I went for the beans instead, which still had the same amount.
Also note that I got hungry this afternoon and had a cup of yogurt! I think if I’d had that at lunch I wouldn’t have been hungry.
Remember that the RDA for someone my size is only about 45 grams per day (0.8 g/kg) so 15 per meal is spot on.
Awesome, thanks! I didn’t see your sneaky beans.
Just wanted to make sure I’m focusing on the right things.
believe you me, kath… a hunka bread makes anything better!
Such a good idea to put hunks of bread in a salad. So yummy!
I’ve never had a plum before! I should try one 
Plums are delicious and are similar to apricots, nectarines, and peaches. So if you like any of those, then you’ll probably like plums as well. If I get a craving for any of these fruits, it’s nice to know that I can go with whichever is the cheapest!
Obviously – since that bread is from the bakery. Must. Have. Some. Soon!
L-O-V-E film scores! Bread in salad? Interesting idea, must try it!
Yum!! I want to try your salad! I love that you drank coconut water with it. That is so healthy, flavorful, and great for you. Thank you for this salad recipe.
Wasn’t sure what to have for lunch at work tomorrow. Salad it is. Won’t be as complex as yours due to our salad bar being short a few goodies but it’ll be greens and veggies and seeds. All good stuff.
What a great idea! I’ll have to stick some bread in my salad next time.
I would try that pandora but ‘iron and wine’ pandora has been the soundtrack to my day and I can’t get enough. It’s perfect for studying or getting work done without being too distracting.
y’know what else is stellar in salads? BREAD CRUMBS!!!
I discovered a cool new Pandora station today you may like. It’s under Halloween music. Yes that’s a category now! it’s called spooky symphonies. I have been listening all day.
Yum! Bread + salad = awesomeness. I love Pandora’s film scores, we listen to it at work and give out prizes for correct identifications!
I love bread in salad, but somehow I always end up nibbling it all at first instead of taking bites *with* the salad here and there. Either way, bread really does make a salad super yummy.
Definitely ate more than you see
Dear Kath, an emo website blasted me for writing “inane” comments on your blog. I will limit myself now to emo-approved comments.
So, um, that plum looks good. :I
Deepest apologizes, Molly.
WTH…your comments are anything but inane. Keep ‘em comin – they always make me laugh.
Say what you want to say
Of course! That comment had a sarcastic tone in my head as I wrote it-there needs to be a sarcasm font.
Who does Deepist apologize to, I wonder?
I listen to it ALL DAY!!
I think bread makes everything look good.
Have you ever had the La Croix sparkling coconut water before?! Oh it is amazing! (they sell it at Target)
Not yet!!
Mmmmm croutons.
Confession: next to the salad bar in one of our dining halls, there’s a big bowl of croutons. And almost every time I grab any food from that place, I scoop up a couple of croutons right into my hand to munch on. They’re just too good!
hey kath,
i hope this isn’t too personal, but i see you eat a lot of beans and fiber — and sometimes i wonder — how does that woman eat so much of that stuff without having such bad belly aches all the time — do you take any OTC (like beano or something?) — i’d like to include more legumes, kale, squashes, etc. — the kind of stuff you eat regularly — but i find my stomach is too sensitive — any suggestions?
I take enzymes fairly often. I don’t need them for dairy, but I do for some vegetables and I would for beans, if I ate them. You can find some formulas that include various enzymes to help digest all components of a rounded meal (fats, carbs, protein, fiber, dairy). I took beano a long time ago when I was vegan and ate a lot of beans, but it didn’t help me, personally.
That is AWESOME! You’re so creative!!! Such an inspiration
Kath you are sooo inventive!! How do you come up with this stuff?!
I’m going to start putting KERFTONS on all my salads!
lol @ KERFTONS…you could sell them at Great Harvest. Great way to use up leftover bread!!
Bread makes everything better, period!
I love looking at all the bread you feature, and because Korea is limited to very sweet-who-knows-whats-really-in-there breads I am DETERMINED to make my own:) Can’t wait to tell ya about my first loaf!
I did this once with a hunk of pumpernickel bread – it was fantastic!
Your toasted bread looks good. I always make my own croutons when I have leftover bread. I toast them with spices and a little olive oil. I like that I can control the sodium and oil. There is nothing worse than getting a salad with greasy croutons! Yuck.
Sparkling water + coconut water = brilliant!
I love to the Knudsen brand sparkling coconut water, but it’s a little pricey to become an addiction. Your idea is much more cost effective.
You might be interested in this salad, then, just in case you ever have any bread hanging round
It is a summer staple in our house (without the onion).
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/giorgio-locatellis-panzanella-836649.html