Thursday, July 19, 2012

Little Bit's Garlic Bread



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The Silver Fox and I gave both of our daughters nicknames when they were babies. Our oldest, born prematurely, was called Little Bit because she was so tiny. The youngest was called Butterfly, not for her Asian heritage, but because she would flit from one place to another and land softly. Bob and I still use their nicknames in our conversations with each other, but have long since abandoned using them when talking with the girls. At any rate, while Butterfly, who was malnourished when she joined us, loved to eat, Little Bit was a challenge. A huge challenge. She survived on applesauce, scrambled eggs and fried chicken. Fortunately, she loved milk and had a pediatrician whose advice kept me sane. When she was in kindergarten, she discovered garlic bread and it was added to her very short list of acceptable food. It stayed there until she left our home to form her own and at that point garlic bread pretty much fell from my memory. Several years ago, Tyler Florence touted something he called a Ripped Baguette. One of my friends noted that no matter what he called it, it sounded like garlic bread to her. It did and was and before long other chefs jumped on the bandwagon and garlic bread enjoyed a resurgence of popularity. One of the great advantages of get-togethers away from home is that kitchen chores are shared and I do not do all the cooking. That gives me time to plan and connive and I hatched a plot to make garlic bread for Little Bit. I tucked the old recipe into my suitcase and designed one of the meals I'd be cooking around that loaf of bread. Unfortunately, I couldn't find good French loaf here and I've had to improvise. Little Bit's garlic bread became fluffy toast with garlic butter, but my heart was in the right place and I wanted to post the old recipe here for her. It is a nice addition to any meal and it is not as heavy as the cheese and garlic bread that have become so popular. I hope you'll give it a try. Here's the recipe.

Garlic Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:

1 loaf French bread
1/2 cup soft butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Dash cayenne

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2) At one inch intervals, make diagonal cuts in loaf being careful not to cut through the bottom.
3) Combine butter, minced garlic, cheese, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne in a small bowl and mix until well-blended. Spread mixture between bread slices.
Place bread on an ungreased cooking sheet and sprinkle a few drops of water on top of it.
4) Bake for about 10 minutes, or until butter is melted and bread is hot. Serve immediately. Yield: 12 servings.








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27 comments :

Katarina said...

I like the nicknames! And garlic bread is a delicious bread!

tinyskillet said...

What a beautiful post, and I adore recipes with memories like this! My grandfather gave us girls nicknames when we were kids...funny, I was lil' princess, and my little sis was fightin' buddy!

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

I do love my garlic bread and yours looks mighty fine!
Duncan In Kuantan

Cool Chic Style Fashion said...

Bellissimo
ciao

kitchen flavours said...

We love garlic bread and yours look wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

I feel soiled buying garlic bread when yours looks twnety thousant times better :D
Wonderful job!

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

I love family nicknames.

Tanna said...

This story warms my heart, Mary. And, both of mine did and still do love garlic bread!! Thank you for both the recipe and the memories you shared. blessings ~ tanna

Unknown said...

What a beautiful story about your daughters! I love garlic bread, too!

Unknown said...

What a fantastic post, Mary! I loved hearing more about your girls and their nicknames! And what a great tribute to your daughter with this garlic bread post... I could survive on this for a long time too!

Kim said...

I always loved garlic bread and, in my family, we never stopped preparing it. Love your recipe, not too cheesy, not too garlicky!

StephenC said...

I suddenly have gotten this idea to buy a tube of Pilsbury French bread and make slices in it and fill them with your garlic bread flavorings. Video tape at 11!!!

Diane said...

I could eat a whole loaf of this all on my own :) Love the family nicknames. Have a good day Diane

Ellen B Cookery said...

I don't think I've met someone that didn't like garlic bread. Nice recipe!

Dining Alone said...

I loved hearing about your daughters, what a nice post. I can understand trying to feed a picky eater :)

JG said...

This Garlic Bread has special memories for you! It also sounds delicious!
~Judy

Joanne said...

I have to say, I've never met a garlic bread that I didn't love! And this is no exception.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

What a sweet story, Mary! Isn't it amazing how food and memories go together?

Cheah said...

Garlic bread is my family's favouite and the nicknames for your girls sound so cool!

David said...

Mary, We both love garlic bread...sometimes with a little melted cheese as well! As for finicky appetites, one of our grandsons has grown up on a diet of fruit, Hot Dogs plus Mac n' Cheese. Somehow, they survive... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Life's a shoe said...

yum it looks so pretty and good!

Ana Regalado said...

Lovely post , Mary ! I do LOVE my garlic bread ! And that slices look yummy !

Ana Regalado said...

Lovely post , Mary ! I do LOVE my garlic bread ! And that slices look yummy !

Ana Regalado said...

Lovely post , Mary ! I do LOVE my garlic bread ! And that slices look yummy !

Unknown said...

Best of all I enjoyed hearing about Little Bit and Butterfly. You are amazing, Mary. x

Jane said...

I do love a good garlic bread :) Great story!

tender b. said...

A very lovely piece of bread and a some beautiful memories.

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