Panzanella Salad

adapted from Stacey Snacks

My family has always been of the "waste not, want not" philosophy, and I had a loaf of stale bread that I felt bad throwing out. So I made a panzanella salad instead. Panzanella is an Italian salad made from bread and tomatoes, tossed in a light vinaigrette. The bread soaks up the juices from the tomatoes and dressing, resulting in a delicious flavorful dish.

Dressing:

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

salt and pepper to taste

Salad:

1 stale baguette (or other bread) torn into bite sized chunks

4-5 tomatoes

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped

1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese

Mix your salad ingredients and place them in a large bowl. Whisk your dressing and pour over the bread and tomato mixture until the bread cubes absorb the dressing. You don't have to use all of the dressing, just use as much as you deem appropriate. Let it sit in the bowl for about an hour to let the flavors mingle together and allow the bread to absorb the juices.