Summer Panini Sammies!!!

Sarah G. joined me in the kitchen last night since Aymie was unavailable (something about a multi-leg international flight to Malawi with many many teeenagers). We made some might fine Panini sammies: Pioneer Woman's Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Apricot Sauce  and from Southern Living, Strawberry-Turkey-Brie Panini.

Grilled Chicken with Apricot Sauce Panini fixins.

We started with homemade baguette for both.  And I used chicken tenders instead of the chicken breast called for in PW's recipe.  I flattened the tenders in a freezer bag with a meat tenderizer, then slathered them with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Using my grill pan they not only cooked up in seconds, but had attractive restaurant-ish grill marks.  Everything for the Strawberry Turkey Brie panini was purchased fresh and it was simply a matter of assembly.  I happen to have a waffle iron with a grill plate accessory that we used to make the tell tale grill marks of a pressed panini sandwich.   We did have to hold the lid down to really press the sammie, but hey, it worked!

Strawberry Turkey Brie Panini fixins (turkey was shy & hid off camera)

And while the Chicken sammie was tasty, the Strawberry Turkey was D-LUSCIOUS!! Sarah and I agreed that you could easily sub in the grilled chicken from the first recipe for the turkey in the second recipe, or leave it out all together for an excellent vegetarian sammie.  The combo of the warm juicy strawberries, creamy brie, pungent basil, sweet yet spicy red pepper jelly, and crunchy homemade baguette is crazy addictive! I will definitely be making that one again!  Thanks Sarah for sharing the link! And to Aymie we wish traveling mercies and lots of Excedrin!  

~Megan~