Are Panini Presses passé ?

Well, not in my world.

As I was making a quick lunch in the panini maker the other day I thought of some cooking appliances which have come and gone ~


But like an electric toaster, waffle iron, or electric skillet I actually use the panini maker on a weekly basis, for pressed sandwiches and lots of other good food too.

This time I'm focusing on sandwiches, in my next post about panini presses I'll share some of the other meals I make with my press.

Whether you use an electric press (my current favorite type) or a stove top grill pan with some kind of a weight/press on top you can produce a delicious, warm and crispy panini sandwich in minutes.

This time I chose thinly sliced ham, Jarlsberg cheese and Dijon Mustard.

Here are a few of my other  favorite combinations; use any kind of bread, roll,  or flat bread that you prefer:

~Lightly brush bread/rolls with olive oil, mayo, or butter so it crisps up nicely.~

Cooked chicken (sliced or small dice), prepared basil pesto, jack or mozzarella cheese.

Grilled Eggplant (brushed with red wine vinegar & olive oil before grilling), crumbled feta cheese, sprinkle of dried oregano, and roasted red peppers.

Tuna salad with thin slices of  sharp cheddar cheese

Grilled portobella mushroom (same method as eggplant, above), fresh basil leaves or prepared basil pesto, slices of mozzarella cheese.

Panzanella panini~  Brush bread or roll with olive oil, layer thin slices of mozzarella, thin slices of tomato, fresh basil leaves, a few slivers of red onion, a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar & freshly ground black pepper. 

Thinly sliced roast beef, sharp cheddar, horseradish cream (or Dijon mayo)

and if you like something sweet ~

 Butter 2 slices of Challah or Hawaiian/Portuguese sweet bread, spread with Nutella (or grated chocolate) and grill.  Sliced banana and/or toasted nuts are optional.

The finer grooves on this panini press produce extra ridges and furrows so the bread is toasted perfectly crisply... ummm! 
Who knew 'corregated' bread could be so appealing to the palate?!

Of course the fillings are limited only by your imagination (and what you might have on hand.) Do you have a favorite panini combination?  Please share it!









I served it with Potato Salad Mom's Way, and a couple of tiny sour pickles.




I love a tool that does double duty, and the panini grill also cooks burgers, meats, chicken and fish fillets or steaks, bacon, and veggies in a FLASH as well.
(More about that in my next post.)

I have had a few electric grills and they all have performed well.  This Krups electric grill and panini maker is my current favorite  ~ not the most expensive nor the least, but it produces even results every time.




What I like about the electric press/grill is that both the top and bottom grill plates heat up, producing even cooking and because of the  two elements the food cooks  more evenly and in less time of a stove top grill with press, in my experience.  I like that it is portable, too-- I can use it on any counter top in the kitchen with an outlet nearby. 

Thinking of holiday gifts? 

You can find additional universal grills/ panini makers which may be of interest by clicking THIS link.











Thank you for stopping by today friends!