Three Cheese Bread (aka: cheesy bread)

If you make this bread, the number of friends you have will increase exponentially.

If you make this bread for a party, you are guaranteed to get an invitation to the next big bash.

Seriously, this bread is a hunk of cheesy, greasy heaven. It’s super simple to make, but the crosshatch pattern that creates the little fingers just makes it party food; all the guests immediately dive in and then bond as they hold their messy hands in the air while searching for napkins. A family friend gave us the recipe several years back, and I could not even tell you the number of times I have made it. My friends kindly informed me last night that I could easily assemble the bread and mail it unbaked directly to their dorm rooms at school. Right…

Admittedly, I cannot take credit for the first picture on this post; Mary Kathryn traded her photography services for my cooking services. Not a bad deal.

Three Cheese Bread (aka: cheesy bread)

1 round of Sourdough Bread
1-½ cups freshly grated cheese (combination of Swiss, Gruyere, Parmesan)
¾ cup butter, softened
1-2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
kosher salt
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
red pepper flakes

1. Blend butter, salt, and garlic in a small food processor.
2. Add the grated cheese and blend until just combined.
3. Slice the bread about 1-inch apart and again at 90° making a checker board-type pattern. Cut as low as you can get without cutting the bread apart.
4. Spread/cram the cheese mixture between the cut faces of the bread. Sprinkle a little extra grated cheese on top.
5. Place the bread on a cookie sheet and bake at 365° for about 25 minutes or until the cheese looks thoroughly melted and the top of the bread is golden brown.
6. On a large serving platter, pour a thin base of olive oil and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.
7. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on the oil and vinegar base.
8. When the bread comes out of the oven, place on the platter.
9. Make sure that the platter is large enough so you can dip the bread chunks easily in the oil and vinegar mix.