Ingredients
• a loaf of ciabatta bread (look in the grocery store bakery area)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (precision measurement is not required)
• garlic powder (precision measurement is not required)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano (more or less as desired to taste). Don’t use the powdered stuff in a can! Have I taught you nothing?
Gear
• cookie sheet
• aluminum foil (for easy clean-up)
• large serrated bread knife
• cutting board
• dinner plate
• oven
Making It
Step 1:
Put your bread on the cutting board. Well done. Admire your work.
Step 2:
A loaf of ciabatta is rectangular when you look at it from the top. Using your bread knife, cut it in half so that you have two pieces that are approximately square. Put one square away for tomorrow, because you have amazing self-control.
Step 3:
Cut the bread into four strips, in the direction of the original cut.
Step 4:
Turn each of the four pieces on it’s side and cut them lengthwise. This will result in 8 long pieces of bread with crust on one side and not crust on the other side.
Step 5:
Open the oven and move a rack to the second position down from the top, with no racks above it.
Step 6:
Cover the cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Don’t worry if it doesn’t cover ALL of the cookie sheet. You are an artist.
Step 7:
Pour about 2 tbsp of olive oil on a dinner plate and put the plate next to the cookie sheet.
Step 8:
Pick up a piece of bread and tap the not-crust side on the olive oil on the plate. You are not trying to soak the bread. You are just trying to get a light coating. Don’t worry about it too much.
Step 9:
Place that piece of bread, not-crust side up, on the cookie sheet.
Step 10:
Oil the remaining bread pieces and put them on the cookie sheet. Put a bit more oil on the plate if you need it.
Step 11:
Lightly sprinkle garlic powder over the bread pieces. Use more or less to taste.
Step 12:
Lightly sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the bread pieces. Or use a lot. Whatever.
Step 13:
Put the cookie sheet on that rack in the oven that is in the second position from the top. Turn the oven on to broil.
Step 14:
Pay attention! The bread only needs to cook for about 4 – 6 minutes. Start checking it at 3 minutes. When the crust edges are brown on some of the bread pieces, pull the cookie sheet out of the oven and remember to turn the oven off.
Step 15:
Eat your delicious garlic bread.