ZUPPE DI PANE

A resourceful, waste-not traditional breakfast dish of Italy that uses old, stale bread. Often referred to as "poor people food", this was a staple for many of our parents and grandparents growing up in Italy.

Simple in ingredients and preparation. The warm milk and espresso, infused into the stale bread, results in soft, fall-apart tender pieces from the interior crumb and chewy tougher pieces from the crusty exterior. This dish makes for a delightful and hearty breakfast that will be sure to keep you happy and satisfied for hours.

ZUPPE DI PANE

Prep Time: 10 - 15 Minutes

Total Time: 10 - 15 Minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

• About 1 1/2 cups of hard, stale crusty bread, broken into small pieces

• 2 cups warm milk (for children can substitute with chocolate milk)

• 2 espresso shots (for children can substitute with cocoa powder, if not using chocolate milk)

• 2 teaspoons sugar or to taste/preference

Instructions:

1. In a pasta or cereal bowl, place the broken pieces of hard, stale crusty bread.

2. Sprinkle the white sugar onto the bread. If making for a child, sprinkle the cocoa powder if not using chocolate milk. Set bowl aside.

3. In a pot, warm up the milk to a gentle boil - be sure not to scald the milk.

4. While milk is warming up, make the fresh espresso.

5. Once the milk is warm and the espresso is ready, slowly pour the milk over the bread into the bowl and then top-up with the espresso.

6. Stir to incorporate the milk, espresso and sugar and then let sit for a bit so that the bread soaks up all the goodness to become very soft and tender, falling apart.

ENJOY!