Garlic Bread Recipe

I'm pretty sure I've never met anybody who doesn't like garlic bread. I mean, really, warm toasty bread smothered in a garlicky spread? What's not to love? I add some grated cheese to mine for all the right reasons.

Ingredients:

• One good crusty loaf fresh Italian bread (seeded or unseeded)
• 4-5 large cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 Tbs unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 Tsp fresh cracked pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Using a good garlic press, crush garlic into an unheated medium sauce pan. Add olive oil and place over medium high heat. Heat oil and garlic just until the garlic starts to sizzle. Add the butter and once it's melted, add cheese, oregano, and pepper. Mix well.

Cut your Italian bread length wise and lay crust side down on a large baking sheet. Using a pastry brush or a spoon, spread garlic mixture on top of the bread. Be sure to use it all, and be sure to cover as much of the inside of the loaf as possible.

Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, until the sides get crisp and the top starts to brown (about 8 minutes).

Serve hot.

Goes Nicely With: Linguine with Clam Sauce