Day 10: Boiled Water

One of the new recipes I tried last month is from Mark Bittman's book, How to Cook Everything. I have both the hardcover version and the iPhone app, and I recommend both highly.

This soup, dubbed Boiled Water because it's just about that easy to make, is surprisingly delicious.

BOILED WATER

6-10 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 thick slices of bread
1/2 freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

Combine four cups water with the garlic, bay leaf, and some salt and pepper in a saucepan or stockpot. Bring to a boil, cover partially, and turn the heat to very low. Let the liquid bubble gently for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, brown the slices of bread in the oil, turning once, for a total of about 5 minutes.

Put the bread in bowls and top with the grated cheese. Strain the soup into the bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve.