We have more than one recipe for baked garlic bread - this one uses whole cloves of garlic, baked first, and optional cream cheese, for an unusual but tasty variation

Ingredients

• 4 cloves garlic, left whole
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or 2 tablespoons clarified butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 French bread loaf, sliced and heated
• 6 ounces cream cheese or soft cheese (optional) or 1/2 cup butter, softened

Recipe

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Trim the tops of the garlic heads, leaving them whole but removing about 1/4 inch. Remove excess dry skins.
3. Rub the heads with a little of the butter or oil and put in a very small baking dish or crock the size of the four heads.
4. Drizzle with the rest of the oil or butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover loosely, reduce heat to 275 degrees F and bake for 20 minutes.
5. Remove cover, and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
6. Slice and heat the French bread (optional) in the last 10 minutes of the baking garlic.
7. To serve: Spread French bread with soft creamy cheese (optional) or butter and squeeze clove by clove onto the bread and spread it.