A quick note about paninis.

This has been a really crazy week.  I taught a class at the quilt shop on Sunday, stayed late at school on Monday, taught a class at the quilt shop on Tuesday,  went to visit my mother today.  So I made quick paninis for dinner.  Lesson #1 about paninis:  you do not need an expensive panini maker.  I see them in catalogues for over $100!  I use my George Forman grill, so it's slanted, so what?  Never lost a sandwich yet!  If you don't have a George Forman, use a skillet and put another heavy pot on top of the panini, and do the same when you flip it.  We have even made them on the outdoor grill this way.

So what is a panini?  I think it is a fancy name for a toasted sandwich.  My favorite is pesto, tomato and mozzarella.  Smear the pesto on the bread-both slices-add cheese, tomato, put it on the grill and wait till it's done.  Now I usually make my own pesto, but this isn't the time of year for that-no more basil in the garden and way to expensive in the store. I make big batches in the summer and freeze it. You can also by jarred pesto at Sam's and it's actually pretty good, just a little pricey, but worth it.  Pesto is one of my all time favorite foods. 

What else can you put in a panini?  Just about anything.  Use flavored mayonnaise or olive oil on the bread.  You can by flavored mayonnaise, or make your own, add some dijon, or a little thyme or rosemary, or balsamic vinegar. You only spread it on the inside, but if you are using a skillet, you might want to put some olive oil on the outside too.  Ham,  Swiss cheese and maybe some cooked asparagus with some dijon mayo on the bread.  Chicken, artichokes, mozzarella and roasted red pepper.  How about just veggies?  Roasted eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, a slice of provolone cheese?  The combinations are endless. Just remember that what ever goes in the panini needs to be already cooked, unless it's something like tomatoes. The sandwich doesn't cook long enough or get hot enough to actually cook the ingredients.  This is a great way to use up leftovers.  You can use French bread, cut like you would for subs, you can use Italian bread sliced on the diagonal, you can use foccaccia, or any kind of artisan bread.  So try this, it's quick and easy.  You can do it with soup and a salad. 

Now you have an assignment.  If you make paninis, I want to know the combination of ingredients you used. I am always looking for new ideas. I will post them here on a special panini page.  So get cooking! 

Happy cooking!

Carol