Easy Garlic Bread

I love pasta dishes, and I make them quite often. I usually suggest garlic bread and salad with any pasta, just because they really do work perfectly together. You can't go to an Italian restaurant and NOT eat garlic bread and salad, it's just unheard of! Since I make so many pasta recipes, I figured it'd be a good idea to share my garlic bread recipe as well :) I will show you two ways, one for crunchy bread and one for soft bread. Both awesomely delicious!


Ingredients
1 16-ounce loaf of Italian or French bread
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 large cloves of garlic, smashed and minced OR 1 1/2 tablespoons pre-minced garlic
1 heaping tablespoon of freshly chopped parsley
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)


Method One - Crunchy

1. Preheat oven to 350* and cut bread in half horizontally. 
2. Mix the butter, garlic, and parsley together in a small bowl. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the two halves.
3. Place the halves on a baking pan and heat for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Return the pan to oven, and place on the highest rack.
5. Broil on high for 2 minutes, until edges begin to toa. 
6. Remove and cool for just a minute. Cut into 1-inch thick slices and enjoy!

Method Two - Soft

1. Preheat oven to 350* and make 1-inch thick slices into the bread, but do not cut all the way through, just to the bottom crust. 
2. Make the butter mixture the same as above. Spread one or two teaspoons of the mixture between each slice, along with some cheese.
3. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil and heat for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and tear off slices as needed. Yum :)