Croutons

Pre-heat oven to 350*. Cut bread into bite-sized cubes--about 3/4"

In a small pan over medium heat, heat butter, olive oil and garlic powder. Stir frequently to avoid any browning until mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat and set aside.

Place bread cubes in a large bowl and pour the butter/olive oil/garlic mixture over top. Using tongs or a large spoon, toss the croutons in the mixture until all are well-coated in the mixture. The crouton to butter/oil ratio will make for a pretty wet piece of bread. Don't worry--the bread will soak it up in the oven during the baking process and make for a buttery, yummy, crunchy delight!

Line cookie sheets with aluminum foil or parchment paper and dump the croutons onto the lined cookie sheets. Place cookie sheets in the pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the croutons are golden-brown and crunchy on the outside, but still retain a little softness on the inside. If you miss this mark, that's ok--they're still going to be delicious!

Enjoy atop salads, soups and stews!