Mushroom Spinach and Swiss French Bread Pizzas

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 oz. button mushrooms
• 8 oz. frozen spinach
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 16 " loaf soft French bread
• 4 slices Swiss cheese

Directions

1. Clean the mushrooms by wiping them, then cut them into thin slices. Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large skillet and add the minced garlic. Cook the garlic over medium heat for 1 minute, stopping when it smells fragrant. Stir in the sliced mushrooms and cook for another 3-5 minutes, until they soften and turn deep brown; if they need encouragement to give off moisture, add a pinch of salt. Add the frozen spinach and keep cooking until it is warmed all the way through. Taste the mushroom-spinach mixture and season with salt and freshly cracked pepper as needed; the original amount was about 1/4 tsp salt and 10 cranks of a pepper mill.
2. Move your oven rack so the top of the French bread will sit 5-6 inches below the broiler. Turn the broiler to high and let it heat for a few minutes. As it warms, cut the French bread loaf into two 8 inch pieces, then split each section lengthwise so it opens like a sandwich.
3. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Set the bread on the sheet with the cut sides facing up. Brush the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil across the exposed bread. Broil the bread for about 3 minutes, until the surface is golden brown.
4. Spoon 1/4 of the spinach and mushroom mixture onto each piece of bread, then add 1 piece of swiss to each one. Slide the bread back under the broiler and cook for 1-2 minutes, just until the cheese is hot and bubbling. Watch carefully so it does not burn. Serve hot.