Cream Cheese Garlic Bread

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut the French bread in half lengthwise. Then cut each piece in half crosswise so that you have 4 quarter pieces.

Spread the softened butter over the top of the bread. Sprinkle the garlic powder over the top of the butter. Smooth the garlic powder into the butter with a spatula or the side of a knife.

Sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons of the paprika over the garlic and butter. Reserve the remaining ½ teaspoon of paprika for garnish. Smooth the paprika into the garlic and butter with a spatula or the side of a knife.

If you have the spreadable cream cheese, spread it over the butter and spice mixture. If you have the block of cream cheese, cut it into small squares and add the squares of cream cheese on to the top of the butter and spice mixture.

Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of the chopped parsley over the squares of cream cheese. Reserve the remaining 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley for garnish. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the top of the parsley.

Put the pieces of bread on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake it in the preheated oven until toasted (about 10 minutes).

If you used the block-type of cream cheese, right after removing the bread from the oven, smooth the warm cream cheese over the top of the bread with a spatula or a knife.

Garnish with the remaining paprika and chopped parsley. Cut in portion-size pieces and serve warm.