Bob Logsden's Garlic Toast

Canyon, Texas, 1984: In another world, before The Davo, even before kids, Ex-Husband and I had dinner with his 60-something boss Bob and Bob’s 40-something secretary/girlfriend.

We were at Bob’s townhouse that overlooked Hunsley Hills Golf Course. The evening was memorable for me for two reasons. The first one was because of how late we ate: after a few rounds of drinks, it was approaching 10 p.m., and my well-trained, routine-fixated tummy was growling at me and everyone else. Or so I thought.

As if reading my mind or possibly hearing my tummy, Bob popped up suddenly, set his drink on the bar, and said, “Let’s fix dinner!” I thought, oh good, steaks don’t take long, I should be home by 11:30!  Bob then sauntered into the kitchen, wrapped four big potatoes in foil, threw them in the (cold) oven, and said, “Gotta have baked potatoes with steaks!”

The second reason the evening was so memorable? It was my last time to see Bob alive. A few months later, he was found in his garage stabbed in the stomach multiple times, lying next to the open driver’s side door of his Mercedes with his eye glasses placed neatly beside him. During the police investigation, his employees were questioned, along with his friends, family, and Big Cheese business associates, including a silent partner in Kansas. No weapon was ever found, yet it was ruled a suicide, harakiri-style. Some of his friends thought he might have just been told he had cancer. The case was closed fairly quickly, then forgotten.

For the record, I never bought the whole suicide thing. I watch as many detective shows as the next guy, so yeah, he could have stabbed himself with an icicle knife, but . . . multiple times? Plus, suicide by stabbing accounts for only 3% of all suicides.

At least I got the following garlic toast recipe out of that late night early morning dinner experience. In lieu of my  first-choice of  homemade rosemary bread, this has been my go-to for a fast and easy bread accompaniment for over 40 years. I usually cut this recipe in half and save the rest of the French bread to make croutons ( p. ___)

This one’s for you, Bob.   

 Serves 12+.

Slice into 1 ½ inch thick slices (about 12) . . . . . . . . . . In a large bowl, microwave to melt . . . . . . . In another bowl, put . . . . .

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1 long loaf of supermarket French bread (the fluffy, fat, cheap one) ¾ lb. butter (3 sticks) 2 t. garlic powder 1 ½ c. parmesan cheese (from the green can)

Preheat the oven to 400°. Dip both sides of the bread in the melted butter, then just one side in the cheese. Place cheese-side-up on a cookie sheet and bake until toasted, 10 - 15 minutes.

Fact: In 1969, an Italian man was convicted of selling grated umbrella handles as Parmesan cheese.