Recipe: Croutons like Outback Steakhouse

CROUTONS LIKE OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE

2 loaves bread, cut in 1-inch cubes
2 1/2 pounds lightly salted butter (not margarine)
3/4 cup of finely chopped fresh garlic
2 1/2 tablespoons McCormick Cajun seasoning (closest to Outback seasoning)

Preheat oven to 250-275 degrees F.

Put bread on cookie sheet and toast bread in oven until it's golden brown; this will take about 20 minutes or less depending on your oven. Watch them! When bread has toasted to a golden brown, take out of oven and let cool (do not try and coat croutons when warm or they will not come out right).

Melt butter until it looks like mayonnaise (do not melt to a liquid). Add garlic and seasoning to butter. Set aside.

When croutons have cooled, place butter mixture in a large bowl. You might have to soften butter mixture again. That's ok, but remember, not to a liquid.

Add croutons to butter mixture and coat each crouton gently using your hands (you might want to use plastic gloves). Make sure that the garlic is staying on the croutons. If you need more butter go ahead and add a little more. One important thing that you need to make sure you do, is not overdo on the butter or they will burn and get soggy.

Put croutons back on cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Gently shake the pan to make sure they are all browning correctly. Do not over shake though, garlic might come off the croutons.

Source: Liz and Kay