"Willy Wonka's" soup secret

A special way to serve up soup is to make your own bread bowls. The kid in me loves to eat "Willy Wonka" style (i.e., "you can even eat the dishes!") Divide 1 loaf of frozen bread dough (thawed) or one loaf's worth of homemade dough into four pieces. Flatten each piece into an eight-inch circle. Place circles on a greased baking sheet and allow to rise until double in size. Bake at 375 degrees F. until golden brown (about 15 minutes). When bread is done, it will sound hollow when plunked on the bottom. Makes 4 bread bowls.

Hint: If you prefer rounder (instead of flatter) bread bowls, don't flatten the dough too much. Instead, keep the dough in the shape/size of a hamburger bun and let it double in size before baking. You can brush the unbaked bowls with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds for added appeal.

To serve, cut a circle from the topside, being careful not to puncture the bottom or sides of the bowl. Set top aside. You can either scoop out the bread filling in the bowl's center, or compress it with the back of a spoon. Place on a plate and fill with your favorite soup. Replace bowl top or serve on the side.

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