Roasted Garlic and Herb Bread

Garlic bread can be made by cutting a big loaf of bread, smearing softened butter all over the cut sides, sprinkle on garlic powder and heat it till the butter melts.   The loaf will be gone as soon as it hits the table.  Fresh hot garlic bread is a crowd pleaser.

If you add a few extra touches and make Roasted Garlic and Herb Butter, smear that on bread and heat it, the bread will more than likely be gone BEFORE it hits the table.  You’ll have folks lined up at the  oven.  You have been warned.

Roasted Garlic and Herb Butter

2 sticks softened unsalted butter

one head of roasted garlic, pulp removed

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon dried herbs of choice (I used a mixture of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme)

Mix well.

Roasted Garlic and Herb Butter Bread

1 loaf Chicago Italian or similar bread, cut lengthwise

Roasted Garlic and Herb Butter, softened

Generously, (read: glob as much butter as you possibly can on top of the bread) smear the cut sides of the bread with the butter.   Place on a baking sheet and bake uncovered in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes until the butter has melted down into the bread.  Turn on the broiler and broil until the edges of the bread start to brown.   DO NOT GET DISTRACTED.   You will burn your bread and then you’ll just be sick about it.  We don’t want that to happen.   Those folks lined up at your oven will want to break down and cry.  Cut the bread into serving pieces as you kick people out-of-the-way.  Try the best you can to get the bread to the table.