How To Make Garlic Bread

It's amazing that something as basic as learning how to make garlic bread can enhance an entire meal. Though it is definitely the preferred bread of Italian cuisine, garlic bread can also be a wonderful pairing to soups, seafood, or even something a little more unique. Ever had garlic bread as the bun for a burger? It's to die for, trust us! The best part is that it is actually really simple to make garlic bread.

To make garlic bread you will need:

• 1 loaf of bread (Italian bread is a great choice, but french bread or something similar to it will work fine)
• 1 stick of butter
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Chopped parsley, fresh
• Oregano (Dried oregano will be fine)
• Chives (Optional)
• Aluminum foil (optional)

1. To begin, pre-heat the oven to 350°.
2. Soften the butter on the counter at room temperature. You can also place it in the microwave for fifteen seconds or so, to speed up this process.
3. Slice the bread horizontally, and place, crust down on a baking sheet in the oven. Toast for about ten to fifteen minutes. Chose a doneness that caters to your preference of softer vs. crunchy bread. If you prefer very soft bread, be sure to wrap the bread in aluminum foil.
4. Peel the garlic and crush, do not chop it. Crushing does a much better job of releasing the juices. Drizzle the oil over the crushed garlic.
5. Heat the garlic and butter in the microwave for about a minute.
6. Remove the bread from the oven and brush a liberal amount of the mixture over the bread. Garnish with parsley and your choice of chives or oregano. Oregano will add more of an Italian flavor to the dish.
7. Cut the garlic bread into smaller slices and serve.