Baked Garlic Cheese Bread

Delicious garlic, onion, and cheddar cheese bread substantial enough to serve for dinner. Somewhat lower in fat than most cheese bread toppings, and almost as easy as premade garlic bread from the supermarket. Dad and kids love it. Our family prefers this made on sandwich rolls.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 4-8

Ingredients

• 4  garlic cloves, minced or pressed
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1⁄2 small onion, finely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise, light preferred, not nonfat
• 1 1⁄3 cups  grated cheddar cheese, lowfat preferred
• 1  lb  French bread (4 to 6, depending on size) or 1  lb  hoagie  sandwich bun (4 to 6, depending on size)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If you have a pizza stone, put it in the oven while preheating.
2. In a medium-size microwave-safe glass bowl, combine the garlic and olive oil. Cook on full power one minute.
3. Stir in the onion. Cook for one minute. They will have softened somewhat but not look browned. Set aside to cool slightly while preparing the bread.
4. Sllice the French bread (or rolls) in half lengthwise. Place on pizza stone, or directly on oven rack, cut side up. Bake 4-5 minutes to crisp before topping.
5. Meanwhile, stir the mayonnaise and cheddar cheese into the bowl of onions and garlic.
6. Remove bread halves from oven. Spread the cheese topping evenly over the cut sides of bread.
7. Return the bread to the oven rack or stone, topping side up. Bake 3-5 minutes, until bubbly, melted, and golden brown in spots.
8. Serves four for dinner, or eight servings as a side dish.
9. For appetizer servings. slice the French bread horizontally and place slices on a baking tray. Skip the baking step before topping. Divide cheese topping evenly over slices; it will be thin.