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Heather's Dish

Faces of Beauty

The Panini Method

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Heather is on Faces of Beauty today! (Not me Heather, another Heather) Come say hi!

Please vote for me on the Next Food Blog Star!  Just click here 🙂

My life is awesome.  There’s not a thing I would change about it.  Except maybe adding a beach across the street from our house.

What do you think?

But the past 2 months of Sunday nights have been completely slammed with things to do.  It always involves spending time with friends, but to be honest I really just needed a break before starting the work week again.  Last night was the first time in a long time that Nate and I were able to sit down and relax before going to bed, and it was just what I needed to unwind.  When I called him from the store to see what he wanted to eat for dinner I was met with the response, “Just a good sandwich would be nice!”  It’s rare that we ever are on the exact same page as far as dinner suggestions go, but I couldn’t have agreed more!

First things first you have to assemble the ingredients:

  • Organic Girl baby arugula
  • Oscar Mayer roast chicken
  • Classico sun-dried tomato pesto
  • provolone
  • ciabatta roll
  • leftover grilled onions and peppers (unpictured)

Now you can use whatever ingredients float your boat.  This is just what sounded good to me last night but today I would probably choose to do a chipotle sauce and cheddar cheese for a more Southwestern feel.  Really, whatever you want will work!

I always like to slice the bread down the middle…

…and then flip it over so that you’re making the sandwich on the crust of the bread.  I don’t remember where I first saw to do this, but it makes for a much prettier presentation when it’s all said and done with!  Brush the cut side lightly with olive oil (~1/2 Tbsp total).  Spread whatever spread (if you’re using a spread) on the crust of the bread.

Top with whatever cheese you might be using.

I added a huge handful of arugula, probably the equivalent of 1-1.5 cups.  Clearly I love me some arugula.

The onions and peppers made their home on the other side.

Here’s the trick:  since you’re making the inside of the sandwich on an uneven surface, it’s kind of hard to get it to stay perfectly together.  IT’S OK.  Don’t freak out.  I can say that because I did the first time I ever made a panino like this.

Don’t freak out.

Just smush (yes that’s a word) it all together and hope for the best.  It’ll all stay in eventually but you have to press it first.

Another tricky thing:  pressing a sandwich when you don’t have a sandwich press.  But look on the bright side:  this forces you to be creative.  Why do the Rachel Ray method of another pan weighed down with bricks or cans of soup when you can just fill a water pot with water and try to balance it on top?

Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side over medium-low heat until golden brown and then flip.  Repeat.  When it’s done the outside will be golden and crusty and the inside will be gooey and melty.  You might die of happiness, and for that I take zero responsibility.

For the dying part that is.

We enjoyed ours with roasted asparagus and a scoop of boxed mac ‘n’ cheese, and then sat back and watched football games, 30 Rock (probably one of my favorites so far – Matt Damon is hysterical!), and The Office.  Perfect Sunday night, don’t you think?!

***Today marks the start of voting for the next round of Project Food Blog! Remember, if you’re a member of Foodbuzz you have 200 votes…I’d love it if one of those votes was for me 🙂  Also, if you’re in the competition please leave your link in the comments section so I can vote for you too 🙂 ***

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Comments

  1. Sarah says

    September 28, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    I’ve been obsessed with my panini press lately, it’s a weekend staple!!

    Reply
  2. Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards) says

    September 28, 2010 at 5:24 am

    organic girl? i have never heard of that. marketing fresh greens only to women?? haha. that’s funny. this looks amazing and I hope you are totally ROCKING project food blog! voted!

    Reply
  3. Liz @ Tip Top Shape says

    September 27, 2010 at 2:48 pm

    Looks so good!!! I swear any sandwich is better as a panini. I don’t care what type it is-it would be better panini-ed 😀

    Reply
  4. Lisa says

    September 27, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    That looks so delicious. I definitely voted for you.

    Reply
  5. arsenalfamily says

    September 27, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    That looks so super tasty! And can I just say that the tip about inside out is fabulous!

    Reply
  6. Mary says

    September 27, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    Okay, that looks delicious! Wow! I think this is now on the meal plan for the week! 🙂

    Great blog; so happy I found you!

    Mary xo
    Delightful Bitefuls

    Reply
  7. Natalia - a side of simple says

    September 27, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    What a perfect Sunday meal! And Heather, I definitely think you should coin the word panino. For sure. 😉

    Reply
  8. Jean@RoastedRootsandPumpkinSpice says

    September 27, 2010 at 11:06 am

    I love paninis! The sun-dried tomato pesto sounds incredible in it.

    Reply
  9. Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says

    September 27, 2010 at 11:03 am

    This looks so delicious! I love paninis but am always disappointed with them when I purchase from my local bodega. Can’t wait to try it this way. Oh, and ciabatta is basically the best thing ever!

    Reply
  10. Maren says

    September 27, 2010 at 10:26 am

    I love good sandwiches. Yours looks amazing. I would never have gone outside the box enough to make my sandwich on the crust part of the bread!

    Reply
  11. Lauren says

    September 27, 2010 at 10:00 am

    So I never thought to turn one of the bread slices inside out to achieve the perfect grill marks! How clever!

    Reply
  12. glutenfreemuse says

    September 27, 2010 at 9:32 am

    Ciabatta rolls crack me up 🙂

    Hubby and I were on our honeymoon and he politely asked the waiter if they had any GF options instead of bread. The waiter said, “Oh, of course! We deal with this all the time!” I was of course incredulous. Next thing I know, the manager comes up from behind me, reaches around me and slides a basket of bread across the table, uttering these words, “Ciabatta rolls.” I stared at Hubby and tried to keep from laughing. Next thing we know, the waiter comes running across the room screaming, “DON’T EAT THOSE!!!”

    It was awesome…I should have faked a seizure 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather says

      September 27, 2010 at 10:02 am

      oh my gosh, great story!

      Reply
  13. LiveForTheRun says

    September 27, 2010 at 8:56 am

    I think you’re on to something with the ciabatta roll. I press my luck with other wraps, but I think the bread makes the diff.

    Reply
  14. Sarah says

    September 27, 2010 at 8:50 am

    Yum, that looks delicious. Thanks for the how-to and tips:).

    Reply
  15. Angela @ Life given says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:58 am

    You know what I love about ciabatta bread; the little pockets it has to soak up all the yummy fillings. But I love the way yours looks toasted on the other side:)

    Reply
  16. Suzy says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:50 am

    ‘smush’ is totally a word! I use it all the time! That panini looks great!

    Reply
  17. Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:32 am

    oh yum!! I haven’t made paninis in forever… they’re so yummy!

    Reply
  18. Estela @ Weekly Bite says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:29 am

    Love your panini method! Goes to show you don’t need a fancy panini press 😉

    Reply
  19. Joslyn @ missfitbliss says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:26 am

    I’m totally filing this one away for my boyfriend. I have a feeling I’ll need to thank you profusely for sharing this one with me;) So perfect for chilly weather too!

    Reply
  20. Marg says

    September 27, 2010 at 7:03 am

    I was just at the store and bought normal pesto, now I’m wishing I would have bought the sun-dried tomato. This looks so good!

    Reply
  21. Taylor says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:52 am

    I love making paninis! I need to buy a tea pot to make paninis…the last time I tried making a panini I topped it with a bottle of olive oil inside of a coffee cup…I turned around for 5 seconds, it slid off and the olive oil bottle broke all over my kitchen floor. That was NOT fun to clean up!

    Reply
  22. Kara @ MyWellnest says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:48 am

    I’ve been in such a sandwich funk lately, I need to make a panini!!! How clever to use your water pot!
    Will definitely vote for you!!!

    Reply
  23. G @ nutritious foodie says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:31 am

    wow the panini looks really good.

    If have got my vote my friend. Here is a link to my post so you can see my classic creation 🙂
    https://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/2/view/703

    Reply
  24. Salah says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:28 am

    Paninis make my heart happy 🙂

    Reply
  25. couchpotatoathlete says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:27 am

    That panini looks so amazing Heather! That crusty, buttery top must taste so good 🙂

    Reply
  26. Jessica @ How Sweet says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:24 am

    Will you please come make me this for lunch?! Thank you.

    Reply
  27. Tabitha (From Single to Married) says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:21 am

    Very creative indeed!

    Reply
  28. Matt says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:12 am

    My sandwiches HAVE to be HOT. Panini’s = <3

    Reply
  29. Tina says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:07 am

    Hey! Your post came through in my reader earlier again today. 😀

    And we’re having sandwiches for dinner tomorrow night. I think I’m going to start having a sandwich night because its so simple and always so delicious. And can make a perfectly balanced meal.

    Reply
  30. Anna says

    September 27, 2010 at 6:01 am

    I’ve never seen a panini made on the “bread” side before– great idea!!

    Reply
  31. RhodeyGirl says

    September 27, 2010 at 5:53 am

    That looks INCREDIBLE!

    Reply
  32. Kim in MD says

    September 27, 2010 at 5:42 am

    I love panini…yours looks incredible! One word-lunch! 🙂

    Reply
  33. Alicia says

    September 27, 2010 at 5:32 am

    Yum!! That looks great!

    Reply

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As we move into goal setting for the new year, may I suggest starting with your physical health? Not to fit the bikini body mold that society normalizes, but to actually BE as healthy as possible. When everything hit the fan for me this year I dug into two things that have been integral to creating positive growth and a healthier mindset: 

1️⃣ my relationship with God
2️⃣ my physical health

What that’s looked like for me on the health front: holding fast to my commitment to whole food nutrition, grace for the days when I choose otherwise, pushing myself to lift heavier in workouts, and taking up running again. 

What’s happened as a result? When I push myself physically, when I choose to practice discipline to do what I know is best for my body, it makes it infinitely easier to choose that same healthy discipline in every other area of life. You want to dominate your goals? Start with your health!
Remember when I blogged about food? 😂 Gosh the Remember when I blogged about  food? 😂 Gosh the past few months have been nuts. I’m still over here figuring out how to eat well without sacrificing my life in the kitchen, and this is a bowl I couldn’t NOT share with y’all. The best thing is that everything is almost always on hand in my fridge, it’s packed with nutrition, and tastes AMAZING!

In the bowl:
-rice mixed with Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce
-broiled shredded Brussels sprouts
-chickpeas
-baby  arugula
-grilled chicken breast
-Romesco sauce (from Trader  Joe’s but I usually make my own)
-a little  tzaziki sauce

This meal has been on repeat all week, only changing the rice for riced cauliflower and omitting the chickpeas on low carb days. YUM! I find that if I have a variety of roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and a few different sauces on hand I can almost always come up with a great bowl for almost any meal!
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