Libby Cooks: A much needed post- A new way to make crunchy toast!

A panini grill in my kitchen has made cooking and grilling sandwiches a whole new, and delicious experience! Whether I am in the mood for a simple grilled cheese, (by the way I found this amazing cook book that is called "Great Grilled Cheese" and has tons of amazing gourmet or classic grilled cheese recipes-I can post more information later but for now I will stick to two different sandwiches) or a more complex sandwich with rarer cheese, roasted vegetables and maple-glazed barefoot contessa bacon, I can always count on my handy-dandy minature grill to work the magic that im in desperate need of. I almost always use whole wheat bread when making paninis, liking in particular the crunchy, baguette-like bread from the bakery section of the Village Market.

I will often walk into the house from being out, and I will find my older sisters fiance and my other sister's boyfriend desperately grilling some quesadillas, or sandwiches with anything else they can find at that moment.., using the one and only panini maker. Everyone in my family loves the sandwiches it produces, and the best part about the machine is that it is as simple as just plugging it in, waiting a minute or two, sticking your sandwich in, waiting 30 seconds, and then your good to go. Anyways, to get to the point... today I made two paninis, one being a goat cheese and asparagus grilled sandwich, the other being a pesto, fresh tomato, and fresh mozzarella sandwich.

These were so simple to make and took me no longer the 4 minutes to create and cook. I love to experiment with different ingredients, and you can find great panini recipes on epicurious.com or www.squidoo.com/Panini-sandwich-recipes. Panini grills usually cost anywhere from $40-$90, and are SO worth the buy. I have probably made 200 sandwiches on that grill and it has reinvented my lunch making experience. So either order on line from amazon for $51.93