“You Don’t Need a Panini Maker to Make a Panini” Panini {Feature Friday}

Congratulations to Nissania Hazghia, this weeks recipe winner and the first Feature Friday guest blogger on Kitchen Tested. If you would like to be featured on KT, it’s as easy as submitting a recipe here.    

As a wife, mom and busy owner of my children’s gift and accessory company, Bella Mia Design Co. I am always trying to come up with fast, easy and delicious dinner ideas.  My job as a business owner and mom is a 24 hour one, so when my daughter goes to sleep, its work time! Since the evenings are so hectic with Bella Mia, I wanted to come up with dinner plans that allow my husband and I to be together and eat a yummy meal that doesn’t require a lot of prep time.  Panini’s are one of our go-to meals, pair it with a salad and you’re good to go.  Even a glass of wine would not be a bad idea!

Panini Ingredients

serves 4

4 Sliced Hero rolls

¼ cup Pesto or olive tapenade (homemade or store-bought)

6 oz container of sliced mushrooms

1 cup Mozzarella cheese

parmesan cheese for sprinkling

salt and pepper

Directions

Sauté mushrooms in olive oil until caramelized and cooked through, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Preheat skillet or large frying pan to medium-high. Open hero rolls and spread pesto on one side. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of pesto and layer with sautéed mushrooms and mozzarella cheese, and then close the rolls.

Spray pan or skillet lightly with Pam and place your sandwiches, two at a time into the pan. Place a piece of aluminum foil on top of the sandwiches and put a cookie sheet directly on top of the foil.  Grab a small heavy object and place it in the cookie sheet.  I use an 8 pound free weight but a full bag or flour or sugar would work just fine. (PLEASE BE CAREFUL with this part!! The cookie sheet will be hot upon removal.) Let the sandwiches cook in the pan for 3 minutes then remove foil and cookie sheet, turn them and leave them for another 3 minutes. Sandwiches will be crispy and brown, cheese with be melted.  Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.

Slice and enjoy your homemade Panini’s! They will be AS good as the restaurant kind, if not BETTER and you did it on your own without any fancy gadgets!

*Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and fillers for your next get together or have a Panini tasting party! YUM!

Whether you are looking for something special for a friend’s little one, or a treat for your own munchkin, Bella Mia Design Co. children’s accessories will make the perfect gift. Combining stylish designs with functionality, our children’s accessories are the perfect touch!  www.bellamiadesignco.com