Ultra popular in the fifties and sixties (and probably even before), this breakfast was still a widespread custom for many Italian families during the eighties. We’re talking about “soup” made with stale bread in caffelatte (literally “coffee milk”). It’s one of the sweetest and easiest ways to leave nothing to waste.
In the kitchen, nothing gets thrown away, not even memories
It was a typical breakfast often prepared by nonna, or even mom and dad: simple, delicious, and nutritious, this sweet “soup” belongs to the old-time “no-waste” culinary tradition. Once upon a time, it was more a matter of poverty or even just careful household spending. Today, on the contrary, its comeback is more about saving “energy” and the resources of our shared home: Earth.
It’s a nostalgic breakfast, as it brings back memories of large cups full of steaming coffee and milk – or milk and orzo (barley coffee) for children – and the tiny pieces of bread floating inside. But it’s also a breakfast that looks toward the future, as waste is increasingly unacceptable and recycling is more than ever a necessity.
But most importantly, today just like then, caffelatte with stale bread is a perfect breakfast for the whole family: grandparents, parents, and children alike.
The recipe for caffelatte with stale bread
As with any bread-, butter- and sugar-based breakfast, we also recommend the use of bland, unsalted bread in this case, as it’s better for dunking in milk.
Difficulty: very easy
Preparation time: approx. 10-15 minutes
Ingredients for two large cups
1 lb. stale bread, 1 qt. milk, approx. 3/4 cup sugar, 2 c. coffee (or orzo)
Instructions
Heat the milk on the stove. In the meantime, cut the bread into small cubes or roughly chop it, ensuring the pieces aren’t too large. Once the milk is hot, turn off the heat and add in the unsweetened coffee or orzo, which should have been prepared previously. Pour the caffelatte into the cups, add in sugar to taste, and mix well. Finally, immerse the pieces of bread and wait a few moments for them to soak up the caffelatte. Good morning, world!