Garlic Bread

/ Bluebird Gardens/

Homemade garlic bread smells delicious, too. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Garlic Bread

Adding homemade garlic bread is a quick and easy way to upgrade any meal. Soups and salads, as well as pasta, all feel, and taste, better with a piece of garlic bread.

There are a number of online recipes using fresh garlic but not everyone has access to homegrown, or even fresh, garlic cloves.

You certainly can also buy ready made garlic bread but it’s just as easy, and a lot less expensive, to make your own.

Basic Garlic Bread Recipe

You will need:

A loaf of French or Italian bread

3/4 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 cup butter

Parmesan cheese (optional)

Fresh parsley (optional)

Use room temperature butter to easily mix with spices. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

To make:

Slice the bread loaf in diagonal pieces.

Mix the room-soft butter with the Italian Seasoning and garlic salt.

Spread the mix on the cut bread pieces.

Make sure each bread piece is covered with the butter mixture. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Optional.

Wrap in aluminum foil until ready to bake.

Heat oven to 350F. Warm bread for 10-15 minutes or until the butter mixture is melted.

Remove. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

You can easily adjust the amount of garlic salt and Italian seasoning to taste.

Mom’s Garlic Bread Recipe

Now I would call this the “fancy” homemade garlic bread recipe. When we were growing up, my Mom made a much easier version using sliced French bread.

She would spread butter on the cut bread pieces, sprinkle with garlic salt, wrap in aluminum foil and warm in the 350F oven.

You can freeze both these recipes either before warming, or afterwards.

If you’re just starting to cook, try the Illustrated American Encyclopedia of Cooking, an excellent reference book with tried and true basic recipes.

Either way, I have a soft spot for homemade garlic bread. Did I mention it’s also excellent with spaghetti?

Homemade garlic bread adds a special touch to spaghetti. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)