One of America's Favorites - Panini (sandwich)

A typical panini with salami, mortadella, tomatoes and lettuce

A panini (from the Italian panini [paˈniːni], meaning "small bread, bread rolls" ) or panino (meaning "bread roll" ) is a sandwich made with Italian bread (such as ciabatta, and michetta), usually served warmed by grilling or toasting.

However, in many English-speaking countries, a panini is a grilled sandwich made from many types of bread. Examples of bread types used for modern panini are baguette, ciabatta, and michetta. The bread is cut horizontally and filled with deli ingredients such as cheese, ham, mortadella, salami, or other food, and often served warm after having been pressed by a warming grill.

Panini is a word of Italian origin. In Italian the noun panino (Italian: [pa'niːno]; plural panini) is a diminutive of pane ("bread") and refers to a bread roll. Panino imbottito ("stuffed panino") refers to a sandwich, but the word panino is also often used alone to indicate a sandwich in general. Similar to panino is tramezzino, a triangular or square sandwich made up of two slices of soft white bread with the crusts removed.[citation needed]

In English-speaking countries, panini is widely used as the singular form, with the plural form panini or paninis, though some speakers use singular panino and plural panini as in Italian.


Although the first U.S. 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 U.S. restaurants began selling panini, with distinctive variations appearing in various cities.

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.

A tri-tip panini with salad

A panini press or grill is a contact grill for heating sandwiches, meat products, vegetables, and specialty menu items, nearly always with electric elements, comprising a heated bottom plate that is fixed, and a heated top plate that closes towards the bottom plate and comes in contact with the food. The function of the panini grill is to heat food to an appropriate internal temperature with desirable external characteristics (i.e. melted cheese, crisp finish, grill marks).

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

Panini Grill Dogs...........


For something different for Lunch or Dinner - Grab the Hot Dogs and grill them on the Panini. Just warm to medium heat. Grill for 7 to 9 min. or until heated through. You can serve them on a Bun, Flat Bread, or Wrap.

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

Put the Panini Grill to use......


An easy way to grill vegetables is your Panini Grill/Press. You can cook bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms. Slice them no thicker than 1 inch and grill until done.

Roasted Chicken Panini w/ Mash Potatoes and Green Beans

Dinner Tonight: Roasted Chicken Panini w/ Mash Potatoes and Green Beans




A light Breakfast and then off to an early Dermatologist appointment. My yearly checkup, nothing new and everything looked good! From there I took Mom to Kroger and stopped by the bank for her. Back home did a few things around the house and then did some cleaning outside. Had the cart for a while after getting everything done. Another gorgeous day, and it's the first day of Fall! Fall is my favorite season. For dinner tonight it's all leftovers, Roasted Chicken Panini w/ Mash Potatoes and Green Beans.




Love those Leftovers!That's my dinner tonight, leftovers from last night's dinner. I used the PERDUE® OVEN READY Whole Seasoned Roaster Bone-In Breast, Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes, and the Canned Green Beans. Everything was so good last night I wasn't going to let the leftovers go to waste.



I made the leftover Chicken into a Panini Chicken Sandwich. For the bread I used Klosterman Wheat

Bread and Private Selection Sweet Hot Stone Ground Mustard for seasoning. I got my Panini Grill out, been a while since I've used it. Sprayed the the Press with a light coat of Pam Cooking Spray and plugged it up to heat it up. I used 2 slices of the Bread and put a light layer of the Stone Ground Mustard on the bottom slice. Layered the Chicken on top of that. Then added more of the Mustard on the top half slice. I then put the sandwich into the Press and let it heat up for about 4 minutes. This is one good Sandwich! The Panini Press grilled it perfectly. The Chicken was delicious as it was last night and the Sweet Hot Stone Ground Mustard was perfect on the Chicken.






Then I also heated up the leftover Bob Evan's Mashed Potatoes and the leftover Canned Green Beans.I love Green Beans and the Canned Green Beans we canned from last Summer are amazing! Just as good as fresh Green Beans and so easy to prepare. As I said, "I love those Leftovers"








The Panini Press

A panini press or grill is a type of contact grill designed specifically for heating sandwiches, meat Panini grill is to heat food to an appropriate internal temperature with desirable external characteristics (i.e. food safe, melted cheese, crisp finish, grill marks).

products, vegetables, or specialty menu items. Almost exclusively powered by electric elements, it comprises a heated bottom plate that is fixed, with a heated top plate that closes on, and comes in contact with the food. The function of the

Designed for countertop use, these appliances meet the operational need for fast, consistent production of a la carte or small batch cooked products. Commercial Panini grills are a system of three main characteristics:  Platen Geometry and Material  Electrical Power, and  Hinge Mechanism and Contact. The various combinations of these individual aspects affect the performance of the grill. Performance is defined by such aspects as cooking time, finish of the cooked product, ease of operation & maintenance, and durability.

Ham and Cheese Panini w/ Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese

Dinner Tonight: Ham and Cheese Panini w/ Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese



Ham, Sargento U

Breezy but at least it's sunny out today, a high in the low 50's. Went to bank and on to Walmart and Kroger. I picked up a few items at Walmart for myself and then Mom had a small list of items she wanted from Kroger that I picked up for her. Then a lot of computer updates  and virus scans. In case you haven't heard there was a big security breach that could effect a lot of on-line users. Everyone should check their on-line accounts. For dinner tonight I prepared a Ham and Cheese Panini w/ Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese.

For my Panini I used Kroger Brand Private Selection Off- the Bone Smoked Ham. One of my favorite packaged sliced Hams. It has a really great taste to it. I also used Sargento Ultra Thin Pepper-Jack Cheese, Kraft Reduced Fat Mayo, and a Flatout Foldit 100% Whole Wheat with Flax Flatbread. Used my Panini Sandwich Press. I love using this, I make a lot of Panini for Lunch. Made the Sandwich and put it in the Press for about 4 minutes and it was ready! The Ham, Pepper-Jack, and Mayo are a great combination for a Panini.








I had been wanting some Mac and Cheese for a while now so tonight my side with the Panini was Mac and Cheese. I used Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese. I don't use a lot of mac and Cheese due to the calories and carbs but the Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese isn't too bad, plus every now and then doesn't hurt. I left all the product info on the Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese at the end of the post. For dessert later a Healthy Choice Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt.

Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese

Velveeta Shells and Cheese


* It's the creamiest
* Whole grain rotini pasta
* Great source of calcium
* A side dish your family will love


It's the creamiest, creamy cheese sauce and shell pasta. Only Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini & Cheese Dinner has the rich, creamy cheese sauce that makes your everyday meals special. This product can be part of a wholesome meal and it is an excellent source of calcium and protein, and a good source of iron. Serve up the best side of dinner your family will love in Velveeta Whole Grain Rotini and Cheese Dinner. Made with the smooth, creamy Velveeta cheese sauce and 50% whole grain pasta, it's the perfect match for any meal.


Directions
Make it tonight! Boil 6 cups water. Stir in shell pasta. Cook 8-10 min., Stirring occasionally. Note: don’t overcook pasta. Drain pasta, don’t rinse. Return it to pan. Add cheese sauce; stir. Makes about 3 servings.


Ingredients
Enriched Pasta Product (Whole Durum Wheat Flour, Durum Wheat Semolina Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate [Iron], Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid); Cheese Sauce (Milk, Whey, Water, Canola Oil, Milk Protein Concentrate, Sodium Phosphate, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% of Sodium Alginate, Lactic Acid, Oleoresin Paprika [Color], Natural Flavor, Cheese Culture, Enzymes, Annatto [Color], Sorbic Acid As A Preservative). Contains: Wheat, Milk.

One of America's Favorites - Cuban Sandwich

Cuban sandwich

A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese originally created in cafes catering to Cuban workers in the early Cuban immigrant communities of Florida: Key West and Ybor City, Tampa. Later on, Cuban exiles and expatriates brought it to Miami where it is also still very popular. The sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and sometimes salami on Cuban bread.
In April 2012, the "Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich" was designated as the "signature sandwich of the city of Tampa" by Tampa's city council.








As with Cuban bread, the origin of the Cuban sandwich (sometimes called a "Cuban mix", a "mixto", a "Cuban pressed sandwich", or a "Cubano") is murky and somewhat controversial. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, travel between Cuba and Florida was easy, especially from Key West and Tampa, and Cubans frequently sailed back and forth for employment, pleasure, and family visits. Because of this constant and largely undocumented movement of people and culture and ideas, it's impossible to say exactly when or where the Cuban sandwich originated.
It is believed by some that the sandwich was a common lunch food for workers in both the cigar factories and sugar mills of Cuba (especially in big cities such as Havana or Santiago de Cuba) and the cigar factories of Key West by the 1860s. Historian Loy Glenn Westfall states that the sandwich was "born in Cuba and educated in Key West".
The cigar industry in Florida shifted to Tampa in the 1880s and the sandwich quickly appeared in workers' cafés in Ybor City and (later) West Tampa, leading other historians to theorize that the sandwich as now constituted first appeared there Historian Andrew Huse states that "the old 'mixtos' coalesced into something more distinct – the Cuban sandwiches we know and love – an original Tampa creation."
By the 1960s, Cuban sandwiches were also common on Miami cafeteria and restaurant menus, as the city had gained a large influx of Cuban residents after Fidel Castro's 1959 rise to power in their native land. The Communist Revolution caused a wave of Cuban expatriates to settle in other locations as well, and they brought their culture and cuisine with them. Cuban sandwiches and variations thereof are now served in various Cuban exile communities in places such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Puerto Rico, among others.

Cuban Sandwiches ready to be pressed in a busy cafe

While there is some debate as to the contents of a "true" Cuban sandwich, most are generally agreed upon. The traditional Cuban sandwich starts with Cuban bread. The loaf is sliced into lengths of 8-12 inches (20–30 cm), lightly buttered or brushed with olive oil on the crust, and cut in half horizontally. A coat of yellow mustard is spread on the bread. Then roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and thinly-sliced dill pickles are added in layers. Sometimes the pork is marinated in mojo and slow roasted.
The main regional disagreement about the sandwich’s recipe is whether or not to include salami. In Tampa, Genoa salami is traditionally layered in with the other meats, probably due to influence of Italian immigrants who lived side-by-side with Cubans and Spaniards in Ybor City. In South Florida, salami is left out. Mayonnaise, lettuce, and/or tomato are usually available options on Florida menus but are frowned upon by traditionalists.
When assembled, the sandwich can be toasted in a sandwich press called a plancha, which is similar to a panini press but without grooved surfaces. The plancha both heats and compresses the sandwich, which remains in the press until the bread surface is slightly crispy and the cheese is melted. It is usually cut into diagonal halves before serving.








A very similar and popular sandwich is the medianoche or "midnight" sandwich, so named because of the sandwich's popularity as a staple served in Havana's night clubs right around or after midnight. It contains the same ingredients as a Cuban sandwich but is smaller and is made on soft bread made from a sweet yellow egg dough, similar to challah.
The Mexican sandwich-like torta has a variation called "torta cubana" (Cuban torta), which includes a collection of different meats, usually all the ones available at the place where the torta is prepared.

Turkey Breast Panini w/ Chunky Potato Soup and Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Today's Menu: Turkey Breast Panini w/ Chunky Potato Soup and Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Still fighting a nasty sinus infection but the Stuffed Jalapenos helped somewhat to clear that up! For dinner I prepared  Turkey Breast Panini w/ Chunky Potato Soup and Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos.

I used Jennie - O Extra Lean Turkey Breast/Hickory Smoked. It comes packaged as a half Turkey Breast and it's 98% fat free and only 50 calories and 0 carbs! For the panini wrap I used Flatout Foildit Flatbread and it's 100% Whole Wheat with Flax and it's only 90 calories and 15 carbs. I then put the Turkey slices and a slice of Borden's Smoked Cheddar on the Wrap and grilled it for 5 minutes in the Panini Grill. First time I used the Jennie - O Turkey Breast. It's very tender and flavorful. Plus you can freeze the remaining breast to use later. Thank you Jennie - O!

For sides I warmed up a can of Cambell's Chunky Potato and Cheese & Bacon Bits Soup. A great tasting and thick soup. As Campbell's says "It's a soup that eats like a meal". I also preapared a side of Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos. Stuffed with chopped fresh Cilantro, fresh grated Dutch Smoked Gouda Cheese, and Ground Turkey. Then wrapped with Jennie - O Turkey Bacon and broiled in the oven for 20 minutes, turning once. These are fantastic!! The Jalapeno, Ground Turkey, Gouda cheese and Cilantro make an incredible flavor. The Jalapenos have a bit of heat but are also a bit sweet from roasting. Looking for a great appeitizer give these a try! I left the full recipe at the end of the post. For dessert/snack later while watching Monday Night Football a 100 Calorie Mini Bag of Jolly Time Pop Corn.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Dutch Smoked Gouda
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
6 large jalapeno peppers
1/4 Pound Ground Turkey (99% Lean)
Sea Salt, Parsley, Roasted Ground Cumin, Ground Black Pepper; to taste
6 strips bacon, uncooked

Directions

1)Preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2) Brown Ground Turkey until no longer pink. Season with Sea Salt, Ground Pepper, Roasted Ground Cumin, and Parsley.

3) In a small bowl, mix together the Ground Turkey, Gouda Cheese and Cilantro.

4) Using a paring knife, cut off the top of the peppers and reserve. Scoop out the veins and the seeds, discarding both. Stuff the cheese mixture inside the peppers, packing it tightly. Replace the cap on each pepper, secure with a toothpick if needed. Wrap the slice of bacon, top to bottom, around each pepper, covering the cap, and secure with a toothpick. Put the peppers on the baking sheet.  broil, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crisp and the peppers are tender, about 20 minutes total. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

Lunch Time with a Panini Sandwich!

An easy made and healthy lunch. Heated up my Panini Grill and made a Ham & Turkey and Swiss Panini. I used a half serving Oscar Mayer Carver Board Sliced Turkey Breast, a full serving of thin sliced Ham, a slice of Sargento Ultra Thin Swiss Cheese, and a Flatout Whole Wheat Flatbread. I also added French's Mustard to top it. All for under 250 calories and made in about 15 minutes!

Turkey Wrap w/ Cream of Tomato Soup

Today's Menu: Turkey Wrap w/ Cream of Tomato Soup


Sometimes the easy things to fix are the best! I had a Turkey Wrap and Cream of Tomato Soup. I used the Hungry Girl Whole Wheat w/ Flax Foldit Flatbread. Love these especially when I use it in the Panini Press. They taste great and are only 90 calories and 15 carbs. I made the wrap with Turkey that we leftover from the other night when we I had baked a Jennie - O Turkey Breast. I topped it with Sargento Ultra Thin Colby Jack Sliced Cheese, which is only 40 calories and 1 carb, Kraft Reduced Mayo w/ Olive Oil, and French's Yellow Mustard.

For the soup I used Amy's  Organic Light in Sodium - Cream of Tomato Soup, which is some of the tastiest Tomato Soup I have ever had from a can. Not only great tasting but it's only 110 calories and 19 carbs! I also had tried the Butternut Squash and it was excellent also. They have several flavors and I plan on tying more of them. I left the Soup info and description at the end of the post. For dessert later a Yoplait Delight Chocolate Eclair Parfait.

Amy's Organic Light in Sodium - Cream of Tomato Soup

Responding to customer requests, our chefs have created a line of Light in Sodium soups with all the flavor and goodness of our regular soups, but containing 50% less sodium. Contains 340 mg of sodium compared to 690 mg in Amy's regular cream of tomato soup. No GMOs - No bioengineered ingredients. All dairy ingredients are made with pasteurized, rBST hormone free milk. USDA organic. Certified organic by QAI. Ready serve. Gluten free. This Cream of Tomato Soup is made from organic sun-ripened tomatoes slowly simmered to bring out their natural sweetness. Amy's dad says it's the best reduced sodium tomato soup he's ever eaten. We're sure that you'll agree.

Contains 340mg of sodium compared to 690mg in Amy's regular Cream of Tomato soup.

Ingredients : 0g Trans Fat/No Added MSG/No Preservatives Organic tomato puree, filtered water, organic cream, organic evaporated cane juice, organic onions, sea salt, organic black pepper. Contains milk.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup
Servings Per Container: ~ 2
Serving Weight: 1 cup
Product UPC: 0-42272-00581-9
Calories: 110     Calories from Fat: 25
Total Fat: 2.5g
      Saturated Fat: 1.5g
      Trans Fat: 0g    
Cholesterol: 10mg
Sodium: 340mg
Carbohydrates: 19g
      Fiber: 3g
      Sugars: 13g
Protein: 3g
Organic: 10%
Vitamin A: 20% • Vitamin C: 15%
Calcium: 4% • Iron: 10%





http://www.amys.com/

Whole Wheat Ham, Turkey, and Cheese Panini Wraps w/ Crinkle Fries

Dinner Tonight: Whole Wheat Ham, Turkey, and Cheese Panini Wraps w/ Crinkle Fries




Light, simple, and delicious, that was dinner!  I had Whole Wheat Ham, Turkey, and Cheese Panini Wraps. I used Hungry Girl Flatout Flatbread made with 100% Whole Wheat w/ Flax. If you haven't tried these your missing out. Always fresh and only 90 calories and 15 carbs. Using the Flatbread I topped it with Oscar Mayer Carver Board Turkey, Kroger brand Hickory Sliced Ham, and Sargento's Reduced Fat Colby/Jack Cheese. I started using Sargento's recently. It's great tasting Cheese and only 50 calories and 1 carb per slice! After assembling I folded the Wrap making it into a Sandwich and put it in the Panini Press for 4 minutes. It came out toasted and the Cheese just melting, love that Press. For a side I had Ore Ida Crinkle Fries, 1/2 Serving. The picture I'm showing is a full serving of Fries, the meal was for 2. For dessert later a Jello Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding topped with Cool Whip Free Topping, about 80 calories total.   

Hungry Girl 100% Whole Wheat w/Flax Foldit Flatbread

I am hopelessly addicted to pasta, bread, and rice. So I'm always looking for new and healthier products.
I found a new product, well new to me, called Hungry Girl Foldit Flatbread. There are different types and I tried the 100% Whole Wheat w/Flax Foldit Flatbread. You can put anything you want inside and then fold one end over, kind of like a taco shell but bread.  I made mine for lunch and put some Jennie - O Turkey Tenders I had left over from the other night and a half piece of Kraft 2% Deli Style Sliced Sharp Cheddar. I then warmed it up in my Panini Maker. Tasted fantastic and browned up beautifully! Another new product to keep on hand. One serving is one piece - 100 calories, 0 fat, 290 mg sodium, 19 g carbs, 3 g fiber, and 6 g protein.

Hungry Girl 100% Whole Wheat with Flax

90 Calories
Excellent Source of ALA Omega 3


Excellent Source of Fiber
43% Less Net Carbs than sliced bread
Tasty!
INGREDIENTS: WATER, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, OAT FIBER, GRAIN BLEND (CUT WHEAT, WHEAT BRAN, CUT RYE, CORN MEAL, BARLEY GRITS, BULGAR WHEAT, STEEL CUT OATS, OAT FLAKES, YELLOW CORN GRITS, BARLEY FLAKES, RYE CHOPS, HULLED MILLET, WHEAT FLAKES), FLAX SEED MEAL, SOYBEAN OIL, YEAST, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: MALTITOL, SUGAR, MOLASSES, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, WHEAT PROTEIN ISOLATE, FUMARIC ACID, PRESERVATIVES (POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM PROPIONATE), CELLULOSE GUM, GUAR GUM, CALCIUM SULFATE, XANTHAN GUM, SALT, L-CYSTEINE, CALCIUM PEROXIDE, ENZYMES. CONTAINS: WHEAT AND SOYBEANS. MANUFACTURED IN A FACILITY THAT ALSO PROCESSES PRODUCTS CONTAINING MILK AND CHEESE.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 flatbread (43g)

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 25
Calories 90

% Daily Values*
Total Fat 2.5g     4%
      Saturated Fat 0g     0%
      Trans Fat 0g    
Cholesterol 0mg     0%
Sodium 360mg     15%
Total Carbohydrate 15g     5%
      Dietary Fiber 7g     28%
      Sugars -    
Protein 7g    

Vitamin A -         Vitamin C -
Calcium -         Iron -
*    Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Ham and Swiss Panini w/ Kicked - Up Chili Beans

Dinner Tonight: Grilled Ham and Swiss Panini Sandwich w/ Kicked - Up Chili Beans



Putting that Panini Grill to use! Had a Panini Grilled Ham and Swiss Sandwich. I used Healthy Life Whole Grain Sliced Bread, Oscar Mayer Carver Board Ham, 2% Swiss Cheese, and some Kraft Mayo w/ Olive Oil for the sandwich. The Beans were Joan of Arc Spicy Chili Beans and to those added Jack Daniels Smoked BBQ Sauce, crumbled Turkey Bacon, and a few splashes of frank's Red Hot to liven it all up a bit! If you have read my posts for a while you may have noticed I have almost switched over completly from Aunt Millie's Whole Grain products to Healthy Life Whole Grain products. The reason being Healthy Life is a little lower in calories and carbs  and also somewhat lower in price, plus the taste and freshness on all their products are very good.

Kitchen Ramblings...

Well while at my local Meijer earlier today I purchased my first panini Maker Grill. I had been wanting one for a while and they just happened to have them on sale. It's a Bella Cucina Artful Food Brand and can be laid flat to be used as a grill also. Tried it out for dinner earlier and made a Turkey and Swiss Panini. So I can finally add Panini Sandwiches to the dinner menus for home. I think the next kitchen toy will be a juicer, I'll keep you updated!

Turkey and Swiss Panini w/ Green Beans and ...

Dinner Tonight: Turkey and Swiss Panini w/ Green Beans and Potato Pancakes

Put the new Panini Grill into use right away! First time I ever owned one and love it. This will expand the menu choices. My first one I fixed on the grill was a sliced Turkey Breast with 2% Swiss Cheese on Healthy Life Whole Grain Bread. I purchased another Jennie - O Turkey Breast and had baked it earlier and then sliced it all up for sandwiches throughout the week. As sides had some Green Beans leftover from last night and 2 Potato Pancakes leftover from my Mom's dinner she had fixed yesterday. Not sure on dessert or a small snack for later.