This bread salad is popular in Europe. Cube half a loaf of day-old, locally baked crusty bread and lightly toast it in the oven, like large croutons (in 1-inch squares). Rough chop 3 ripe local tomatoes, (save the juice), 1 small red onion sliced thin and 1 clove fresh chopped garlic. Add the bread and vegetables together and dress with 1/2 cup of your favorite Italian or balsamic vinaigrette dressing and a pinch of fresh chopped basil. Make it a day ahead and refrigerate, covered, overnight. Or, prepare and let it sit at room temperature for a couple hours for the best flavor. Serve with crunchy, fresh local Romaine lettuce. Taste it before you serve it; the bread soaks up the dressing and it may need a splash of fresh dressing to perk it up.



