Bake Bread Baskets

Bread baskets are a fantastic and easy way to make appetizers for a party. These baskets are perfect for filling with cream cheese, smoked salmon, cheese or peanut butter and jelly for the kids. Use your imagination -- anything that's in your fridge or pantry that is delicious and would usually be suitable for an appetizer is perfect for a bread basket. Great for a football party, cocktail party or just for a quick and easy snack.

Ingredients

 * Plain sandwich bread
 * Olive oil
 * Fillings of choice

Steps

 * 1) Switch on the oven. Set it to 350ºF / 180ºC.
 * 2)  [[Image:Breadbasket1.png|170px|right]]Take the rolling pin and roll the bread out flat. You don't have to worry about the crusts being flattened at the same time because you will be cutting the bread into rounds. This saves you having to cut them off at the start.
 * 3)  Keep rolling until the bread is about 1/8th of an inch (3 mm) thick. Some bread will take more effort than other bread. Keep rolling until it is very flat.
 * 4)  [[Image:Breadbasket2.png|170px|right]]Take a cookie cutter, a knife or the rim of a small, round plastic container. Use this to cut rounds out of the bread.
 * 5)  [[Image:Breadbasket3.png|170px|right]]Make as many rounds as you need. If you are having a party, making a dozen using the muffin tin is probably suitable.
 * 6)  [[Image:Breadbasket4.png|170px|right]]Brush both sides of each round generously with olive oil. Keep a cloth or paper towel handy to wipe your fingers as the oil will make your hands greasy.
 * 7)  [[Image:Breadbasket5.png|170px|right]]Press the bread rounds into the muffin tin hole.
 * 8)  [[Image:Breadbasket6.png|170px|right]]Place the tin in the oven. Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for approximately ten minutes. They will bake crispy and retain the basket shape for filling.
 * 9)  [[Image:Breadbasket7.png|170px|right]]Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
 * 10)  Add the filling. Some examples include:
 * 11) *Cream cheese and salmon
 * 12) *Dill and mayo topped with a slice of smoked salmon
 * 13) *Bruschetta
 * 14) *Dips
 * 15) *Chopped cooked mixed veggies

Tips

 * Try adding baked beans or scrambled eggs for a kid's dinner. They're perfect portions and if you make a few extra, it's fine for the kids to ask for more.

Things You'll Need

 * Rolling pin
 * Breadboard
 * Muffin tin

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Bread Balls
 * How to Make Bruschetta
 * How to Make Bread Stuffing
 * How to Make Bread from Scratch

Sources and Citations
Assar uma Cestinha de Pão broodmanden bakken
 * Original source of article: Jenny Slafkosky, (Oakland Tribune Food Editor), ''Making Bread Baskets - video from 5min Life Videopedia. Shared with permission and appreciation.