French Bread Pizza Perfected

• 1 loaf (about 12-inch Loaf) French Bread, Storebought Or Homemade
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• Garlic Powder For Sprinkling
• 1/2 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese, More Or Less
• 2 cups Pizza Sauce
• Pizza Toppings Of Choice

1. 1.
2. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 2.
3. Slice the French bread in half the long way, forming two long halves (like a hot dog bun but dont keep them attached).
4. Lightly press on the bread with the palms of your hands or with the bottom of a flat baking sheet until the bread is compressed to about half of what it was (generally about 1/2-inch or so thick, but like I mentioned in my post, homemade French bread doesnt flatten quite as well in my experience).
5. 3.
6. Drizzle the olive oil on the cut side of both halves, about 1/2 tablespoon for each half, and brush oil lightly into the dough.
7. Sprinkle with just a touch of garlic powder.
8. 4.
9. Sprinkle half of the Parmesan cheese across the cut side of each half.
10. Place the loaves of bread on an aluminum-foil lined baking sheet and bake for 3-5 minutes, until the Parmesan cheese is just barely starting to turn golden and has hardened a bit to the touch.
11. Take care not to burn the Parmesan!
12. Remove from oven.
13. 5.
14. Spread pizza sauce on top of the Parmesan-crusted loaves and top with pizza toppings of your choice.
15. I usually go with about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese for each half and throw on some pepperoni and olives but the sky is definitely the limit here!
16. 6.
17. Bake the pizzas for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the bread are starting to crisp up and turn golden.
18. Remove from oven.
19. 7.
20. Using a serrated knife, cut each half into pieces and serve immediately.
21. Recipe source: Mels Kitchen Cafe (inspired by tips from Serious Eats and Cooks Country).

bread, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, pizza sauce, toppings of choice

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/french-bread-pizza-perfected/ (may not work)