Garlic/Cheese Bread

"A crusty french bread, so good spread with garlic butter or dipped into flavored oil.""
Serves makes 20-24 slices | Prep Time 15 minutes | Cook Time 45 minute bake timeWhy I Love This Recipe
Nothing is better with a salad or bowl of soup than a toasty, hot, slice of garlic cheese bread. Yum!
Ingredients You'll Need
FOR THE FRENCH BREAD:
1 1/2 c. very warm water (if water has any sting to the touch, it's too hot)
1-3 T. sugar (your choice of sweetness)
1 1/2 t. sea salt
2 T. olive oil (oil or butter of your choice)
1/2 c. + 1 T. liquid egg whites
2 T. active dry yeast
2 c. white rice flour
1 c. tapioca flour
1 T. zanthum gum
1 t. vinegar
FOR THE GARLIC/CHEESE SPREAD:
2 sticks butter, softened (more or less to taste)
8 (more or less to taste) cloves of garlic, minced
1 c. (more or less to taste) finely grated parmesan cheese
leave out the cheese if you want only garlic bread, leave out the garlic if you want only cheese bread.
Directions
In bowl of stand mixer, pour in very warm water. With mixer on low, add sugar, salt, olive oil, and egg whites. Mix well. Add yeast, and mix well. Turn mixer off, add flours and zanthum gum and stir until moistened. Turn mixer on low, add vinegar. Turn to high and beat well for a couple of minutes. Use a French bread pan to bake the bread (you can use a regular bread pan, but it will not have the right shape). Line the bread pan with parchment paper. Let bread rise 45-60 minutes. Bake in an oven preheated to 400 F for 45 minutes. Immediately remove bread to wire rack to cool. Meanwhile make garlic cheese bread: add garlic and cheese to softened butter and stir well. Cut bread into desired slices, slather with butter mixture, place on foil lined baking sheet and toast in oven or toaster oven at 425 F 10-15 minutes until lightly browned around edges and melty. Serve immediately.
Pairs Well With
Great with soups, salads, and Italian meals.