Italian Cheese Bread

This is a great way to use up and dress up a loaf of ordinary bread. This is a very easy, quick and tasty recipe that everyone will love. Eat your heart out fast-food pizza chains!!!

Tips:

Block cheese - You can sometimes find discounted cheese in the deli section because they cannot use the ends of the cheese block. 
Powder or fresh - garlic powder does very well in this recipe, but fresh garlic can over-power it. If you wish to use fresh, I recommend crushing or roasting garlic cloves and rubbing the bread so that the oils are left on the bread and not the garlic itself.

Oven Temperature: High Broil
  Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Bake Time: 5-10 minutes 
Servings: 8 slices

1 loaf Italian or French bread

1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves crushed garlic

2 cups shredded Italian cheese (mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano)

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning blend

3 cups jarred marinara sauce (or recipe below)

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven broiler to high.

2) Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

3) Slice the bread loaf in half lengthwise so that you have a top and bottom section.

4) Place the two bread halves on the prepared baking sheet.

5) Sprinkle the bread with the garlic powder or rub each half with crushed garlic.

6) Top the bread with the shredded cheese carefully.

7) Finally, sprinkle the bread with the Italian seasoning.

8) Place the bread under a high broil for 5-10 minutes or until the the cheese begins to brown.

9) Slice the bread into desired sizes and serve warm with sauce.

Sauce

1 - 29 ounce can tomato sauce

1 Tablespoon fresh basil, minced or 1 teaspoon dried

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

Directions:

1) Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan.

2) Bring the sauce to a simmer and serve warm.