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  #1  
Old 12-18-2006, 01:38 AM
Nantzie Offline
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Default Breadcrumbs? Help with seasoning please...

I've been trying to replicate (or better) the seasoned toasted breadcrumbs that I used to buy from the grocery store. I'm gluten-free, and have a bread that works really well texture and flavor-wise as a base, but it's the additional herbs and spices that I'm having a problem with. I've been toasting the breadcrumbs in a saute pan with some butter and they're really good, I just end up over-salting them or not having the right ratio of herbs or spices and they never turn out right.

One of my husband's favorite pre-GF meals that I used to make was pork schnitzel. I just used Contadina seasoned breadcrumbs back then.

It's getting really frustrating. I've mastered a lot of things since switching to gluten-free, but breadcrumbs is still the thorn in my side. Especially since if I master it I'll have a whole bunch of stuff I can do that just frustrate me at this point.

Any help, tips, tricks or recipes welcome.

Thanks guys!

Nancy
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Last edited by Nantzie; 12-18-2006 at 01:39 AM. Reason: typo
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  #2  
Old 12-18-2006, 07:43 PM
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First of all it is not necessary to toast the breadcrumbs. The dry crumbs you buy in the store are dry to give them a longer shelf life and to keep them from spoiling. Dry bread crumbs absorb a lot more liquid - including oil - than fresh. That makes them less desirable for pan frying which I assume you do with your schnitzel. You generally cannot get fresh crumbs as finely ground as dry but the texture of the coarser crumbs is IMHO superior anyway.

As to seasoning, are you using dry or fresh herbs? Again, if you are preparing the crumbs a la minute, fresh is best. How much to use? That's a matter of personal taste and the trial and error method. For the S&P, I would season the meat not the bread crumbs.

Jock
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Old 12-18-2006, 08:49 PM
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First, allow me to say that I agree with Jock and would prefer to season the meat rather than the bread crumbs.
Having said that, I do understand that there is a place for seasoned bread crumbs. If you're interested in finding something close to the Contadina bread crumbs, you might approach it from from this direction:
The more common Italian herbs include basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory and thyme. (excuse the alphabetical order but I can't remember them in any other way)
If you have these available, try placing them in order by intensity of flavor. Use the more intense flavored herb as the main (background, base, whatever you choose to label it) ingredient in your blend (your "herbs de provence" if you will) and balance it by adding others as you believe suits your need. Take notes and, each time you prepare the blend, make adjustments that make sense to you. You will eventually come to understand the affect of each herb to the total set and you should come up with what you're looking for.
Personally, I would begin with rosemary, basil and oregano in essentially equal amounts and tease the blend with a touch of sage and thyme.
But you may like another starter blend better.
Just don't give up. Contadina didn't come up with its blend in one afternoon. That's why the call their research group a "test kitchen".
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Old 12-19-2006, 11:54 PM
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Thanks guys. I'll use your corrections and advice and just keep at it. Being a novice with knowing how much salt/pepper/herbs to use is apparently the thing I'm hitting up against. So it's a matter of practice, which I'm cool with.

Thinking back to a year ago I used to use one of those mini food processors, or a chopping gadget from pampered chef to chop an onion. Now I can mince an onion with my knife in half the time that it took to use and clean those gadgets. So I'm coming along.



Nancy
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Old 12-20-2006, 07:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nantzie View Post
Thanks guys. I'll use your corrections and advice and just keep at it. Being a novice with knowing how much salt/pepper/herbs to use is apparently the thing I'm hitting up against. So it's a matter of practice, which I'm cool with.

Thinking back to a year ago I used to use one of those mini food processors, or a chopping gadget from pampered chef to chop an onion. Now I can mince an onion with my knife in half the time that it took to use and clean those gadgets. So I'm coming along.



Nancy
That's the spirit

Jock
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