source: Essence Magazine October 2007
The Panini Sandwich
A panini (/pəˈniːniː/; nowadays less commonly called panino, Italian: [pa’niːno]) is a sandwich made with Italian bread (such as ciabatta and michetta), usually served warm after grilling or toasting.
In many English-speaking countries, the name panini is given to a grilled sandwich made using various breads. The bread is cut horizontally and filled with deli ingredients and often served warm after having been pressed by a warming grill.
Although the first US reference to panini dates to 1956, and a precursor appeared in a 16th-century Italian cookbook, the sandwiches became trendy in Milanese bars, called paninoteche, in the 1970s and 1980s. Trendy US restaurants began selling panini, with distinctive variations appearing in various cities.
The history of the panini sandwich
During the 1980s, the term paninaro arose in Italy to denote a member of a youth culture represented by patrons of sandwich bars, such as Milan‘s Al Panino, and Italy’s first US-style fast food restaurants. Paninari were depicted as right-leaning, fashion-fixated individuals, delighting in showcasing early-1980s consumer goods as status symbols. (Wikipedia)
Ingredients
8 slices sourdough sandwich bread
4 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard
1/2 pound sliced low-fat cheese, swiss, gruyere, or Muenster
1/2 pound sliced turkey, smoked or roasted
12 arugula leaves
1 tablespoon butter or oil
Directions
To make this Grilled Smoked Turkey Sandwich, start by placing 4 bread slices on a work surface; spread each with 1 tablespoon of mustard. Beginning and ending with cheese, equally divide the cheese, turkey, and arugula leaves over each bread slice. Top with remaining bread. Heat a large skillet, grill pan, griddle, or sandwich press (panini). Grease the surface with butter or oil. Cook sandwiches until bread is nicely browned on each side and cheese is melted in an uncovered pan for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Cut sandwiches in half crosswise.
Hint
These are delicious with tomato soup
Also, try; Fudgy Chocolate Cake recipe
