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Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Gretchen's table: Panzanella is a fresh and tasty answer to stale bread
If you're like me, and sometimes forget what's in your pantry, you probably buy more bread than you can use on occasion. How many loaves have dried on your counter? Rather than throw it to the birds, you might soak it in milk kissed with cinnamon and sugar to make a buttery pan of French toast. You could pulverize the dry slices in a food processor to make bread crumbs, or cube and fry it in a little olive oil for salad croutons. Even though we're many weeks away from tomato season, I have an even tastier way to upcycle bread that's beyond its prime. Use it as the base for panzanella, a rustic, traditional Italian salad made with stale bread, cucumbers and tomatoes. OK, I just put my tomato plants in, thanks to uncooperative weather. But it's important to remember panzanella isn't so much a tomato salad flavored with bread as it is a bread salad that gets a boost from vegetables, including tomatoes. No need to wait for your garden harvest. I've been finding some really nice containers of juicy yellow and red cherry tomatoes at my favorite grocery the last few weeks. It's also easy to find an intensely flavored heirloom tomato at most larger grocery stores, and to be honest, unless you're really picky about using only sun-ripened homegrown or locally grown fruit, the stem-tomatoes that come still on the vine are usually pretty good, too. There's a long tradition of pairing stale bread with seasonal veggies in central Italy. La cucina povera, or the kitchen of the poor, required poor peasants to improvise with what little they had in their pantries and gardens to make great food with simple, high-quality ingredients. The first written record of an early version of the dish - pan lavato, meaning "washed bread" - is believed to come from writer Boccaccio in the 14th century. Panzanella is traditionally made with stale Tuscan bread, which has a bland crumb and a dark crust. My version is a little less conventional: I made the toasted bread cubes out of three day-old everything bagels I got at a deep discount at Oakmont Bakery. I also used sliced shallot instead of the more pungent red onion that often characterizes the dish because the allium I had waiting in my fridge had gone soft and mushy. The combination of raw, juicy tomatoes, onions, crunchy cucumbers and bright green basil makes for a fresh, light summer lunch. Vinegar is essential in the vinaigrette - it gives the dressing a nice tang. Panzanella salad For salad 1 1/2 pounds assorted tomatoes, halved or cut into wedges Sea salt 3 day-old bagels or 1/2 pound Tuscan or sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling bread 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallot or red onion 1/2 English cucumber, sliced into half moons 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for garnish 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, optional For the dressing 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar 3 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, or more to taste Heaping 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or more to taste Ground black pepper Preheat the oven to 450 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place tomatoes in a large bowl and toss with about 1 teaspoon salt. Allow to sit for around 5 minutes, then drain tomatoes over a large bowl, reserving the juices. Place bagel or bread pieces in a large bowl, and drizzle with enough olive oil to cover (about 3 tablespoons). Toss to coat. Scatter the bread on the baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. (I used everything bagels, so was sparing.) Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until crispy around the edges. Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt and several grinds of pepper. Add onion, tomatoes, cucumber and bread to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Add a little of the reserved tomato juices, and toss again. Add cheese, if using, and basil and gently toss. Season to taste and serve with more fresh basil on top. Serves 4. - Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Oakmont resident recounts moment fast-moving, powerful storm sent tree falling onto powerlines
Residents in Oakmont reported to Channel 11 News that just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, winds began to increase, causing widespread power outages and massive trees to snap. The downed trees crashed into power lines, shutting down major thoroughfares like Hulton Road. Oakmont was one of the areas hardest hit in the region. Drone 11 captured images of trees uprooted and branches broken in half, blocking streets and bringing down power lines throughout the community. PHOTOS: Drone 11 captures devastating storm damage across Western Pennsylvania Local businesses were affected as well; many shops along Oakmont's main street were closed, with signs on their doors stating, 'Sorry, no power.' Oakmont Bakery was open for a brief period to fulfill pickup orders, while a nearby restaurant had to throw away food but managed to offer a limited menu for guests. 'I have never seen wind like this. I have been here since 1972,' shared Jack Eaton, a homeowner in Oakmont. Eaton recounted sitting in his living room when he first saw his welcome mat fly across his back deck. 'It went by so fast that I didn't know what it was at first; I thought it was a piece of wood or something,' he said. He noticed his awning rattling, but before he could assess the situation, a massive tree in his front yard snapped, taking several power lines down with it. 'The wind was so loud when it passed by that I couldn't tell what was happening,' he explained. This morning, Eaton discovered that shingles had been ripped from his roof and scattered across his lawn, also damaging his back patio. He showed Channel 11 the extent of the damage. Hulton Road between Allegheny Avenue and 5th Street in Oakmont will remain closed as residents wait for electricity to be restored. 'To be quite honest, we haven't seen anyone from the power company since the storm. I know Duquesne Light is busy elsewhere, although they claim Oakmont is one of the major areas affected,' Eaton said. Despite the destruction, Eaton considers himself fortunate, stating, 'Honestly, I told my wife that we are very lucky; we have minimal damage compared to what could have happened.' Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oakmont Bakery raising money for Marc Fogel with cookies in his likeness
Feb. 12—The viral image of Oakmont resident Marc Fogel sipping a drink on an airplane following his release from a Russian prison Tuesday is one of two images on Oakmont Bakery's "Home Sweet Cookies." "Luckiest man on Earth" is written under the image. Oakmont Bakery's Marc Serrao, who co-owns the business with his son, Tony Serrao, said that the other image will show Fogel with a flag around his neck that says "Welcome home Marc." The cookies will be released on Saturday. "We're all really excited because he's from Pennsylvania. He's a local guy, he taught in Oakmont ... we're so excited for his family," Marc Serrao said. "I feel like this is something that brings everyone together, no matter what you believe or what's going on in the country. This is a humanitarian thing." Marc Serrao said the bakery will start with about 1,000 cookies and can be pre-ordered by calling the bakery. The cookies will sell for $2.50 each or $25 per dozen and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Fogel. Tony Serrao's twin sons attend Riverview School District with Fogel's great-nephew. He said "the sky's the limit" in terms of what they hope to raise for Fogel. The cookies will only be available Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oakmont Bakery selling ‘Home Sweet Home' cookies, with 100% of proceeds going to Marc Fogel
Oakmont Bakery is celebrating Marc Fogel's return to the United States in a sweet way. 'Today is a day of celebration, filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that our Oakmont neighbor is back on American soil and will soon be with his family,' the bakery said in a Facebook post. Their 'Home Sweet Home' cookies feature photos of Fogel after his release from Russia and the phrases 'Welcome Home Marc' and a quote from Fogel: 'luckiest man on earth.' The cookies will be available from Saturday, Feb. 15 to Monday, Feb. 17. The bakery said 100% of the proceeds will go to Fogel. To place an order, click here to visit Oakmont bakery's website. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
