I'm quite smitten with my panini press and feel it really offers my family a plethora of dinner options, all of which can be ready in less than fifteen minutes. Gifted to me several Christmases ago, it has become a beloved kitchen gadget despite it's limited use. I go through phases with my small appliances, and think I'm more seasonally dependent on them that I like to admit. The ice cream maker is in continuous use from May to October, and the panini press comes out of hibernation those months as well. Both items seem to find their place back in our cupboard sometime in the early winter, and the slow-cooker then takes centre stage on my counter top.
All of this to say that, while I wish my solution for quick and easy meals including turning out a twenty-minute beef bourguignon, I'll settle for other forms of yumminess via a stuffed sandwich. And let me tell you, there's something about those grill marks that my boys positively giddy with excitement, making this a win/win meal for all.
Similar to making a pizza, a tortilla shell or piece of thick-sliced bread can be lightly buttered or oiled and topped with an assortment of favourite ingredients, then grilled to warmed perfection. Don't worry, if you don't have a panini press you can create a similar sandwich by using a regular pan and a foil-covered brick (heat a small amount of oil in a pan, add the sandwich and cover with the brick to "press" the sandwich flat), or alternatively you can make them in a toaster oven.
These sandwiches really make for a simple dinner, which makes for a simpler evening and it's hard to argue with any form of simplicity these days, isn't it?
Panini Sandwiches
Here is a list of some possible filling combinations, or at least the ones that our family enjoys:
- Leftover roasted butternut squash, grated Granny Smith apple, walnuts and parmesan cheese
- Black beans, mashed sweet potato, roasted garlic and cheddar cheese
- Turkey, cranberries, spinach and brie
- Pesto, prosciutto, arugula and roasted red peppers
- Roast beef, red onions, basil mayo and provolone cheese
- Chicken, pears, mozzarella and arugula
- Peanut butter, honey, banana and pecans
- Tuna, cheddar and tomato
- Chicken, dried apricots, apple and brie
- Roasted squash, red pepper and Monterrey Jack cheese
- Scambled eggs, pepperoni, pizza sauce and cheddar cheese
Can you think of something I may have missed? What do you love to eat in your grilled sandwiches?
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