Sicilian Bread Soup

INGREDIENTS

• Abot 4 C Left-over pieces of rustic bread.  Basic white sponge bread will be a disaster if you try to use it.
• 6 cloves whole garlic
• To taste: red pepper, salt, pepper
• 2 TBL EVOO
• 1/2 C carrot
• 1 C onion
• 1/2 C celery
• 1 can peeled tomatoes
• Basil leaves
• Chicken stock
• Scallions
• Romano Cheese or Parmesan Cheese

STEP BY STEP

1. Saute onion in EVOO
2. Add carrot and celery
3. Add garlic
4. Add red pepper, salt and pepper
5. Add tomatoes – crushed or broken apart
6. Cut bread into 1 inch pieces – about 4-6 C of it – and add to pot
7. Add basil chiffonade
8. Add 4-6 C of chicken stock
9. Simmer 90 minutes
10. Stir every 15 minutes
11. Top with scallions or basil
12. Top with cheese
13. Drizzle with EVOO

This is also called Pappa al Pomodoro and was originally a peasant dish in Italy.