It has been a few years since I moved from San Jose to Orange County.

At first, I only frequented Korean markets, but now I have the luxury of picking various items from American markets.

Ingredients that were unfamiliar to me at first now proudly occupy a corner of my kitchen. One of them is... Garlic Bread!

In Korea, garlic bread was that sweet, bakery-style with a hint of cream cheese, right?

Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, with a slightly cake-like feel. But here, it's different.

American-style garlic bread is truly just 'bread + garlic + butter.'

It's savory and rich without sweetness, and the subtle garlic aroma spreads... Wow, taking a bite makes you involuntarily exclaim with a slight saltiness.

The reason I fell in love with this garlic bread was actually simple. It was one weekend. My husband and I were having a quiet dinner without the kids, and we went to an Italian restaurant in our neighborhood, where I completely fell for the garlic bread served as an appetizer.

On a crispy baguette, the golden garlic butter had soaked in, and there was a hint of olive oil aroma... Oh my, could I make this at home? Since that day, my garlic bread research began.

Now, when I buy a baguette, I immediately cut it in half, scoop out a bit of the inside, and mix softened butter with extra virgin olive oil. Then I add a generous amount of minced garlic. Depending on my mood, I might throw in some parsley too. I spread that generously on the bread and pop it in the oven, and that's it.

After baking it in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, the rich and warm aroma fills the house. Those who love garlic will know. This smell truly tempts people.

When my husband first tasted this garlic bread, he said just one thing.

"Wow, this is actually better than the restaurant's."

I can't tell you how proud I felt hearing that. Since then, this garlic bread often appears on our dinner table. It pairs well with creamy pasta and also goes nicely with tomato soup. Sometimes, we even replace dinner with just garlic bread and a glass of wine.

When we quietly sit together pouring wine while the kids are asleep, and take a bite of the warm garlic bread just out of the oven, the crispy sound makes me feel all the fatigue of the day melt away. I think, 'This is why people get into cooking.'

Living in Orange County, I really enjoy things like this. It's easy to find various ingredients, and I love trying new foods. At first, I stood in front of the shelves for a long time, not knowing what to buy, but now I have my favorite baguette brand and I can tell which olive oil has a stronger aroma.

All you need are baguette, butter, olive oil, and minced garlic. You don't even need a fancy oven; a toaster oven works just fine.

If there's anyone reading this who hasn't made garlic bread at home yet, please give it a try.