1loaf French bread or baguettesliced in half horizontally
5cloves garlicminced
9Tbspunsalted buttersoftened
1/2tspwater
1/4tsptable salt
1/4tsppepper
1 1/2Cshredded Italian blend cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with rack in the middle of the oven.
In a small non-stick saucepan, melt 1 Tbsp butter and add minced garlic and water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until garlic is fragrant and starting ot turn yellow, about 2-3 minutes. (Do not let it turn brown or burn).
Mix the warm garlic-butter mixture into 8 Tbsp of the softened butter along with the salt and pepper. Spread the cut sides of the bread with the mixture. Put the bread loaf back together and wrap with tinfoil. Place on a baking sheet and bake in oven for 15 minutes.
Remove bread from oven and carefully unwrap. Separate bread halves and place back on baking sheet, cut sides up. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes. Remove bread from oven and sprinkle with the cheese. Turn oven to broil setting. Return bread to oven and broil unit the cheese start to turn golden , 1-2 minutes. Remove from oven and slice in 2 inch wide pieces with a sharp, non-serrated knife.