Aunt Sally’s Amazing Garlic Toast

I Hope You’re Not On A Diet, Because You Will Not Be Able To Eat Only One Slice Of This Delicious Garlic Toast!

This is my Aunt Sally’s famous garlic bread recipe that she always made to go with her delicious spaghetti with meat sauce.  My cousin Janie (Sally’s daughter) makes this as well.  I never formally asked for this recipe, but I watched my aunt and my cousin while they made this, so I’m reasonably sure this recipe is accurate.  In Janie’s house, this garlic bread is a staple, because Janie still serves her spaghetti and meat sauce once a week (it is her family’s absolute favorite meal), and what good is spaghetti and meat sauce without garlic bread to go with it?  I just made this garlic toast for a family get together, and I got lots of compliments.  This tasty treat is definitely worth the calories!

• One loaf of Italian bread (or 2 loaves)
• at least one stick of margarine or butter, melted
• lots of garlic powder (use a good brand such as McKormick) or lots of fresh crushed garlic (I used the fresh garlic, but my Aunt Sally and cousin Janie use the garlic powder.  Both are equally as delicious, but I think the garlic powder gives the bread a more garlicky taste, while the fresh garlic is milder.)
• paprika (adds color and flavor)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Slice the bread about one inch thick.  Then melt the margarine or butter in a small saucepan or in the microwave.  Then sprinkle a good amount of garlic powder or the fresh crushed garlic  into the bowl with the melted margarine or butter.  Add a good sprinkling of paprika and mix.  Then dip each slice of bread into the melted butter/margarine and garlic and paprika mixture on both sides of the bread. 

Place each piece of bread side by side on a half sheet pan that has been covered with aluminum foil. Place in preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes until the bread starts to brown on the underside.  Then turn each slice of bread over.  Bake another 10-15 minutes till brown on the bottom.  Serve immediately.