Serves 4 to 6

These crisp, delicious little snippets of toast can turn a simple salad or bowl of soup into something you would expect to be served in an expensive cafe.  And they are soooo easy to make.

1 French bread baguette

1 stick (quarter pound) of butter, softened

2 to 3 cloves of garlic, very, very finely minced

1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

Some minced fresh parsley

Exotic Sea Salt of Choice  

Slice the baguette into slices about ½  inch thick and toast to a light golden brown.  Blend the minced garlic and herbs with the softened butter  and spread on each slice of toasted baguette.  Place buttered toast back in oven or toaster oven until the butter is melted and the bits of garlic are just beginning to brown.  Sprinkle the tops sparingly with the fresh parsley and salt of choice.   Wrap in a clean cloth to keep warm and serve in a basket.

This might be a good place to experiment with some of the more exotic salts.  If a smoky taste would be appropriate, you might like to try a light sprinkling of Hawaiian red or black sea salt, Mediterranean Flake salt, salt pyramids or the famour Fleur de Sel from the coast of Brittany.