Side Dish: Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Who doesn't love garlic bread?  Besides the few that are allergic of course...
And who doesn't love freshly baked bread?  AND CHEESE?! Beside those that have dairy allergies too - that sucks truly...

Anyway - my point is - that I love cheesy garlic pull apart bread and it's wicked easy to make - although mildly time consuming.
And guess what? You can use your bread machine that has been collecting dust since your Aunt Judy dropped it off in fear of making Uncle Bert too heavy with the baked goods from it.

This recipe will be short and sweet.

Here's the recipe I use via Genius Kitchen (which I believe used to be "food.com") to make my Italian bread dough.
Bake according to the recipe and all will be fine.

**If you want it extra garlic-y - and who wouldn't?! Add some garlic powder in the machine too!

Now, here's the recipe part!

What you need:

• One Italian loaf - freshly baked and cooled
• Butter
• Garlic powder
• Minced fresh garlic (optional)
• Parsley (fresh or dry) chopped up
• Shredded/grated cheese (I use a pizza mix from the grocery store)
• Parchment paper
• Bread knife (you know - the long zig-zaggy looking one)

What to do:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 150*C.
2. Melt about ½ cup of butter in your microwave or on the stove with the garlic powder (and or fresh).
1. Add your parsley after butter is melted and give it a good stir.  Keep warm so it is still melted.
3. Cut your loaf of bread in a criss-cross fashion. 
   **Don't cut all the way through the loaf or else you'll be making croutons...
1. Cut approximately 4 vertical cuts then turn the loaf and cut in the opposite direction 4-5 times more. (Think like a checker board).
2. The less you cut - the bigger the chunks.  It's up to you how many chunks of bread you want to make and the size of them.
3. Set your loaf onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet.
4. Put your shredded cheese inside the cracks you've created - both horizontally and vertically.
1. YES you will put more cheese on top! Don't fret! The reason why you should stuff the cracks now with cheese is because it's easier and less messy than once you have butter poured in there and you won't burn your fingers this way either with the hot butter.
5. Pour your garlic butter (watch your fingers!) all over the bread - making sure it's well coated inside each crevice and all over the top.
   Don't be ashamed for how much butter you use!  There shouldn't be a massive pool of it on the paper- but you want to ensure the bread is full of flavour.
6. You can brush more butter on and around the loaf if you fancy and then top with shredded cheese.
7. Bake the loaf on the center rack for about 5-10 minutes- until the cheese is melted and your house is smelling so delicious that the vampires won't be coming over anytime soon...
8. Enjoy!

I should've added more cheese.

Be careful as this will be piping hot because the hot melted garlic-y butter and the cheese will be gooey and yummy and so lovely!
And all you have to do is just pull those chunks of cheesy garlicy bread off as you go and enjoy it!!

Serve this up when having a game night with your friends or as a side for a salad (just kidding!) and pasta night!  Also goes well with a nice stew or soup on a chilly day!

It looks fancy with minimal effort.

Add extra garlic butter for dipping -because why the heck not?!

Enjoy...and don't forget to wear your stretchy pants...it's how I roll personally. :)

XO,
Dominique