You have been asked to use the recipe provided to prepare croutons. Read the recipe and answer the following questions.

Croutons

Step Method

$1$ Remove crusts from white bread and evenly dice the bread into $5$ mm cubes.

$2$ Fry the cubes in clarified butter until they are an even golden brown.

$3$ Remove from the pan and drain them well on absorbent paper.

Uses: Salad accompaniment, garnish for pur$$ed soups.

a$)$ One slice of bread yields two portions for salad accompaniments and four portions for soup garnishes. You have to prepare sufficient croutons for $6$ salads and $12$ soups. How many slices of bread do you need to prepare?

b$)$ What knives, tools and equipment $($mise en place$)$ are required to complete this preparation task?

c$)$ What precision cuts are required to prepare this recipe?