Herb and Parm Crusted French Bread

So this summer BFF went on a trip to Spain.  She came back with a wicked tan and presents.  You know you and your BF are BFFs when she brings you something truly unique and perfectly perfect.  She brought me salt from the Mediterranean.  Because she knows I would geek out over sea salt so fresh that when you put it on your tongue you can taste the ocean.  She also brought me two tiny salt cellars that were made right there next to the salt flats.  Swoon.

She came over for dinner and to tell me all about her Spanish adventures and I knew we had to incorporate this salt into whatever we ate.

Since fresh herbs are plentiful right now, and I have a love affair going with huge loves of crusty on the outside, soft on the inside french bread, I knew we would be carbo-loading.

Look how cute and tan she is.  Don’t you just want to put her in your pocket?

Do not walk, run to your local fancy market to pick up a loaf of french bread and sea salt.  If you don’t have an awesome friend to go all the way to Spain to pick up some salt for you, places like Sprouts and Whole Foods sell fancy-schmancy sea salt by the bulk. It may cost $9.99 a lb. but when you’re only buying 1 oz. I think it it’s a good compromise because Morton’s just won’t cut it.

Ingredients:

1 loaf french bread
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
1 handful fresh basil, chopped
shaved Parmesan cheese (buy it when it is still fresh and in a block, not pre-grated)
2 tsp. sea salt
Olive oil

1.  Cut loaf in half, length wise, and spread each side (generously) with butter.

2.  Sprinkle sea salt on butter.  Add about 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese on each side.  I’ve found the quickest and easiest way to get nice pieces of shaved parm is to use a carrot peeler.  Run the peeler on the block of cheese just like you would a carrot and voila!

3.  Top with herbs and drizzle with olive oil.

4.  Place bread on a baking sheet and bake in 400 degree oven, top half, for 7 min.

You can’t believe how delish this was.  Here, let BF show you.