Sinfully Good Garlic And Blue Cheese Bread
4 Large Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped
8 Tablespoons (1 Stick) Unsalted
Butter, Melted
1 Loaf Italian Bread, About 13 Inches Long And 4-6 Inches Wide
8 Ounces (in Volume) Blue Cheese, Crumbled
1 Medium Onion, Peeled And Halved Lengthwise Through The Stem End And
Cut Into Paper-thin Slices
freshly Ground Black Pepper
12 Kalamata Or Other Black Olives, Pitted And Halved
3/4 To 1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped
Fresh Rosemary Or 1/4 To 1/2 Teaspoon Dried, Crushed Well
Combine The Garlic And Butter In A Small Bowl And Set Aside.
Slice the bread in half lengthwise. The top half will have a slightly
mounded top. Cut a lengthwise strip from the crust of the top half and turn
the bread over so it lies flat. (the strip of crust can be used for bread
crumbs.) Place the bread halves, cut sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet.
Brush the cut side of each half with the garlic-butter mixture. Sprinkle
each half with the blue cheese, then top with the onion slices. Season to
taste with pepper. Arrange the olive pieces over both halves and sprinkle
with the rosemary. (the bread can be prepared 2 to 3 hours ahead to this
point. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and leave at cool room temperature or
refrigerate.)
When you’re ready to bake the bread, preheat the oven to 400 degrees f. Bake until the cheese melts and the bread is hot, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and let cool for 2 minutes. Cut into slices 1 1/2 inches wide. arrange on a serving platter and serve warm.
Makes about 16 slices.