Italian Garlic Toast Food

BEST GARLIC TOAST (QUICK & EASY!)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Thinly slice the bread.
• Mince the garlic. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic with the olive oil, dried oregano, and salt. Use a brush to brush the mixture on both sides of each slice of bread and place them onto a baking sheet. Try to pick up some of the minced garlic with the brush, as it tends to sink to the bottom. (If the oil runs out, depending on your size of bread, just add a splash more to the bowl with the garlic.)
• Add a pinch of garlic powder to the top of each toast.
• Bake for 5 minutes until the crust is crisp but the inside is still soft. If desired, sprinkle with finely chopped Italian parsley. Enjoy immediately.

THE BEST GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is golden and the garlic is very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Slice the bread in half lengthwise. Liberally brush the crust with the garlic butter. Turn the bread cut-side up. Slice each loaf crosswise at 2-inch intervals without cutting all the way through, making "pull-apart" garlic bread. Liberally brush the cut sides of the bread with more garlic butter, spreading any remaining garlic evenly over top. You should use all the garlic butter. Carefully transfer the bread to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Sprinkle the loaves with the Parmesan and a pinch of salt and bake until the edges of the bread are a deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Top with the parsley. Serve warm.

MAKE-AHEAD GARLIC TOAST

Steps:

• Mix butter, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and garlic powder in a bowl. Arrange Italian bread on a large baking sheet and spread each slice with garlic butter mixture. Place baking sheet in freezer and freeze until bread solid, about 1 hour. Transfer bread to a resealable plastic freezer bag until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Arrange desired number of slices, butter-side up, on a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until bread is toasted and butter is melted, 5 to 7 minutes.

ITALIAN SUB STOUP AND GARLIC TOAST FLOATERS

Steps:

• Place a soup pot or deep sided skillet on the stove top and preheat to medium high heat. Add olive oil, 2 turns of the pan and the sausage. Brown and crumble the sausage, drain off excess fat if necessary then add the ham and pepperoni. Cook meats together 2 minutes then add peppers and onions and cook 2 or 3 minutes more. Add diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add chicken stock and bring stoup to a boil. Stir in pasta and cook for 8 minutes. Make croutons while pasta cooks.
• In a large skillet heat about 1/4 cup of olive oil, 4 turns of the pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add bread to garlic oil, toss and toast the cubes 5 or 6 minutes. Season the toasty cubes with red pepper flakes, oregano and lots of grated cheese.
• Stir arugula into soup just before you serve it up. Ladle up the stoup and float several toasty garlic bread cubes in each bowl.

ITALIAN SLOPPY JOES

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil and the beef. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until it is well browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then remove the beef and drain off the fat.
• To the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and cook the peppers and onions until soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute or 2. Add the tomatoes, sugar, oregano and basil and bring to a simmer. Return the beef to the pan and simmer until the mixture is nice and thick, about 10 minutes. If it gets too thick, thin it with a little water. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and parsley. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To serve: Spoon a nice portion of sauce over each of 4 slices of the Garlic Toast. Let the sauce cascade over the sides, then prop a second piece of Garlic Toast over to the side of each. Garnish with extra grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet.
• In a bowl, mix together the butter, Parmesan, oil, parsley, garlic powder, paprika and oregano until it forms a paste. Season with salt and pepper, then spread the mixture on the bread.
• Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

TOASTED GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Cut the bread into slices 1 to 2 inches thick.
• In a small bowl, mix butter, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Spread the mixture evenly on the bread slices.
• On a medium baking sheet, arrange the slices evenly and broil 5 minutes, or until slightly brown. Check frequently so they do not burn.
• Remove from broiler. Top with cheese and return to broiler 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese is slightly brown and melted. Serve at once.

GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice the baguette diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Depending on the size of the baguette, you should get 20 to 25 slices.
• Lay the slices in one layer on a baking sheet, brush each with olive oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake the toasts for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are browned and crisp. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, rub one side of the toasts with the cut side of the garlic. Serve at room temperature.

CALAMARI STEW WITH GARLIC TOAST

Steps:

• For the Calamari Stew: Warm the olive oil over medium heat in a medium pot. Add the garlic and let cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove the garlic. Add the tomato sauce, white wine, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the calamari and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the mixture comes back up to a simmer, about 2 more minutes. Serve immediately with the Garlic Toasts.
• For the Garlic Toast: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, drizzle the bread slices with olive oil. Toast until the bread is crisp and turning golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the top of the toasts with whole garlic cloves. Serve immediately with the Calamari Stew.

PASTA E FAGIOLI WITH CRUSTY GARLIC TOAST

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.

GARLIC TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine oil, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and toss gently. Sprinkle with cheese. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. , Bring to room temperature before serving. Cut bread into 24 slices; toast under broiler until lightly browned. Top with tomato mixture. Serve immediately.

GARLIC TOAST

Steps:

• Turn on broiler.
• Place bread in single layer on sheet of foil. (I use toasted oat bread or whole wheat).
• In small saucer or bowl, mix olive oil, margarine, Italian seasoning, garlic, and Parmesan.
• Brush or spoon mixture over each piece of bread.
• Sprinkle lightly with paprika.
• Place 4-6" under broiler.
• ***Watch Closely*** it can quickly go from browned to burnt if you're not paying attention. Cook 2-3 minutes & remove from oven when edges begin to brown.
• Sprinkle lightly with flaked sea salt (I use pink Australian salt, but if you don't have any, a light sprinkling of regular table salt will do).
• Serve!

EASY GARLIC CHEESE TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400* F.
• Place bread slices on a cookie sheet, and spread with butter and then mayonnaise. Sprinkle with garlic salt and seasonings, and top with cheese.
• Bake uncovered for 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and just browned on the edges.

GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together the butter, garlic, Parmesan and parsley. Add the salt and generously season with pepper. Set aside while you cut the baguette.
• Cut deep slits into the baguette, 1-inch apart - don't cut all the way through the loaf - and place the baguette on a large piece of foil. Using a teaspoon or an offset spatula, generously spread the seasoned butter inside each slit. Make sure to reach the bottom of the slit; don't be shy here.
• Wrap the baguette in the foil, place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the baguette from the oven and unwrap the top (leave the bread on the foil). If you're adding mozzarella, use the offset spatula or spoon to gently open each slit and tuck a piece of mozzarella in (it's O.K. if the cheese pops out from the top a little). Return bread to the oven and bake until crisp and golden on top, another 5 minutes. Slice with a serrated knife (or tear with your hands) and serve at once.