Evenly slice bread in half length wise*. Place bread halves insides up on a cookie tray. In a small bowl add enough olive oil, Italian spices, garlic powder and parmesan cheese to form a spreadable sauce. Spread over surface of exposed bread. Place in oven on the top rack and broil at 350 degrees until golden brown.

*Recipe can be done with a round loaf of sourdough or pre-cut slices of bread that will be toasted in the oven.

Mince garlic, parsley, and basil leaves together. In a small pan, add olive oil, salt, pepper, and minced garlic-parsley mixture. Cook for 1 minute on medium heat until the garlic is tender. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Slice baguette lengthwise down the center leaving a “hinged” edge. Open the halves and spread the garlic mixture on the bread. Sprinkle lightly with shredded parmesan if desired. Place on a cookie sheet and cook with the halves closed for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Alternative cooking method: cook with bread halves open to allow cheese to melt and turn golden brown.

Cut the loaves in half lengthwise (horizontally) using serrated knife.

Combine softened butter with cheese and minced garlic. Spread mixture on halves of bread. Bake in convection oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Cut the bread into slightly angled slices (about 1 ¼-inch wide)

Notes: Recipe for Viva L’Italia Cheesy Garlic Bread serves 200 (150 guests plus singers, servers, and kitchen staff)

Ingredients:

• 26 loaves Safeway sweet French bread, one day old
  • order about 2-3 days before event
  • pick up around 5 PM the day before the event
• 10.5 pounds sweet (unsalted) butter
• 9 pounds finely grated parmesan cheese
• 26 cloves garlic (~ 156 g), finely minced or whirled in a processor
  • Or 180(+) g of prepared minced garlic from Costco
• Oven thermometer
• Scale
• Serrated bread knives

The day before event:

• Pick up bread, stack loaves vertically in boxes, cover with towels overnight
• Peel and mince garlic, store in fridge until next day (or used prepared garlic)

The day of the event :

• Cut the loaves in half lengthwise (horizontally) using serrated knife (52 halves). Do this in the morning and re-wrap in bags.
• Arrive at church around 2:30 PM to start baking by 3PM
• Preheat convection oven to 350 degrees F
• Divide loaves into 3 batches (17.3 halves)
• For each batch, cut and microwave 3.5 lbs butter
• Combine softened butter with 3 lbs cheese and 60(+) grams minced garlic
• Spread mixture on halves of bread
• Place on large sheet pans for baking (too messy to place directly on oven racks)
• Bake in convection oven for about 10 minutes until golden brown (check often)
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes
• Cut the bread into slightly angled slices (about 1 ¼-inch wide)
• Stack slices 3 deep in large, deep, foil lined pans for reheating
• Cover with foil when bread is completely cool
• Reserve equivalent of 3 loaves for staff after-party
• Reheat in a 300˚F oven before dinner (for about 30 minutes)