I think that one of the best small appliances I chose to buy is my panini press – when I’m pressed for time or want a quick filling lunch, I just take what’s on hand and throw it in between two pieces of bread and voila – nice melty sandwich in just a couple of minutes. I’ve tried many different types of bread, but my current favorite is to use the Rosemary Foccacia from Trader Joe’s, which grills up perfectly. Here’s just a couple of different combinations that I made this summer.
Trader Joe’s also sells these thick chicken slices which are just awesome for sandwiches. Using some of their really good, affordable Brie and some cranberry mustard, I make a panini that I like when I want something a bit sweet and creamy.
The Caprese Panini used a lot of items from my garden – some tomatoes, and some basil, paired with some sliced fresh mozzarella from Trader Joe’s, and some olive oil and balsamic glaze spritzed on the bread.
I like to spray the outside of the sandwich with butter-flavored cooking spray to keep it from sticking. I’m still playing with different combinations, and I’m sure I’ll some more interesting ones for you all in the future.