Crusty Italian Garlic Bread Recipes

Steps:

• In a medium size bowl add butter and allow butter to sit for a couple of hours to come to room temperature. You can also microwave until it is at room temperature as well, but do not allow butter to melt!
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Add the garlic and parsley to the butter and mix well.
• Rub the basil and oregano between the palms of your hands to release the flavor and throw in the bowl. Mix content of the bowl well.
• Remove about 1/3 of the Garlic Butter Spread to use later.
• Cut your bread in half the long way. Spread about 2/3 of the Garlic Butter Spread onto the halves of the bread. Place each half directly on your oven rack and bake for 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and allow bread to cool until you can handle the loaves.
• Turn oven to broil.
• Slice bread into thick slices (about 2" thick). Place bread on cookie sheet and spread with the extra Garlic Butter Spread.
• Place cookie sheet in oven and broil bread slices for 3 - 5 minutes, or until nicely browned to your taste. Make sure to watch VERY carefully so bread does not burn.
• Place a large clean kitchen towel in a bread basket and wrap the towel over the bread until served but no more than a couple of minutes or bread could get soggy!
• In my house, this serves about 3 or 4 because we eat this bread like CRAZY!

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Using a rubber spatula, stir in 3-1/2 cups flour and salt to form a soft, sticky dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise at room temperature 1 hour., Stir down dough (dough will be sticky). Turn onto a floured surface; with floured hands pat into a 9-in. square. Fold square into thirds, forming a 9x3-in. rectangle. Fold rectangle into thirds, forming a 3-in. square. Place in a large greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour., Punch down dough and repeat folding process. Return dough to bowl; refrigerate, covered, overnight., Grease the bottom of a disposable foil roasting pan with sides at least 4 in. high; dust pan with cornmeal. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead gently 6-8 times; shape into a 6-in. round loaf. Place into prepared pan; dust top with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Cover pan and let rise at room temperature until dough expands to a 7-1/2-in. loaf, about 1-1/4 hours. , Preheat oven to 500°. Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 in. deep) across top of loaf. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake on lowest oven rack 25 minutes., Reduce oven setting to 450°. Remove foil; bake bread until deep golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide in half. Shape each portion into a loaf. Place each loaf seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. With a sharp knife, make 4 shallow slashes across top of each loaf. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Oil the inside of the bowl of a mini food processor. Add the softened butter, garlic, cheese and herbs. Pulse until well combined.
• Slice the bread into 1-inch thick slices. You will need 12 to 16 slices.
• Spread the butter mixture onto 1 side of each bread slice. Arrange slices, butter side up and bake in the oven until lightly toasted, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Steps:

• Place the tomatoes in a medium bowl and poke small holes in them with a fork or paring knife. (This will prevent them from exploding and shooting seeds everywhere when you crush them.) Crush the tomatoes with your hands, a potato masher or a fork, and break them up into small pieces. Set aside.
• Stir 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons oil and half of the garlic in a small bowl and let sit until ready to use.
• Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a heavy-bottomed large pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onions, remaining garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and just begin to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the reserved tomatoes and any accumulated juices and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, cover and bring to a boil. Cook until the vegetables are just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the beans, kale and pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta and kale are tender, about 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the garlic toast. Brush the top of each slice of bread with the reserved garlic oil, pushing the garlic into the crumb of the bread. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add half of the bread, oiled-side up, and cook until deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Flip and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. (You want this side slightly less toasted so that the garlic doesn't burn and taste bitter.) Transfer to a platter and repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and bread.
• Stir the parsley into the soup and season with salt, if necessary. Divide among bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, some shaved Parmesan and cracked black pepper. Serve with the garlic toast.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a small bowl, combine the garlic and oil, mix well.
• In another bowl, combine parsley, thyme, marjoram and paprika.
• Add Parmesan; mix well.
• Cut each loaf crosswise into diagonal slices, without cutting all the way through.
• Brush cut sides of slices with garlic oil.
• Sprinkle herb mixture between slices.
• Wrap each loaf in foil, place on a baking sheet. Bake until heated through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Unwrap the loaves and place them on a breadboard or in a basket. Serve immediately.
• FREEZER Follow the recipe through step 2, but wrap each loaf in plastic wrap and then in foil.
• Freeze up to 1 month.
• To heat, preheat oven to 350°F.
• Remove foil and plastic wrap from loaves; rewrap in foil.
• Place on a baking sheet and bake until heated through, about 25 to 30 minutes.