Hot off the Press - A Panini Story

Ingredients:
1 small, loaf Focaccia bread
3 slices paper thin honey ham
3 slices paper thin oven roasted turkey
1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
1 glove garlic
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 TBSP butter, softened
1 TBSP olive oil


Directions:
1. Pre-heat a Panini press, George Foreman grill, pan grill or a heavy skillet on medium high
2. Add cheese, garlic, mustard and butter to a food processor and pulse until a paste is made
3. Slice the loaf of bread in half horizontally
4. Evenly spread the cheese paste onto both sided of the bread
5. Layer the ham and turkey on to one side of the bread
6. Top the sandwich with other half of bread
7. Spread ½ of the olive oil on one side of the bread, turn and spread the other half of oil.
8. Place the sandwich on the press, lower the top, and press firmly. Be careful not to let the sandwich slide out of shape. Alternately, add the sandwich to the grill pan, or skillet and press with another heavy pan or brick covered with foil.
9. Grill for 7 minutes or until bread is golden brown and crunchy (or 5 -7 minutes on each side if using a skillet or grill pan)
10. Let stand to cool 5 minutes. (It’s hard to wait, but it really does taste best if you let it cool)


Recipe Notes: I’m kinda like Joey on Friends; I LOVE sandwiches and will fight you if you want a bite outa mine! It stems from my brief stint growing up on the East coast. I have to say, no one makes a sandwich better than a Yankee. However, I never had a Panini until I made one myself. They are fantastic! This one is my all time favorite. Its flavors are strong, unctuous and absolutely lip smackingly good. There are many more versions of Panini’s and sandwiches to come, so keep your taste buds tingling!

Posted by Buffie