It’s not that I don’t like football – it’s just that I have a hard time getting really into it. My mom always ribs me for routinely mixing up offense and defense when I was the JV cheerleading captain in high school. Details! I do enjoy the excitement of the game, though. They use some pretty snazzy on-screen graphics and the beer commercials are usually entertaining, I can appreciate that. But the best part about football season, for me, is football food.

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Continue reading "Sausage, Peppers & Smoked Mozzarella Panini" >>

© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/sausage-peppers-smoked-mozzarella-panini/

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I have just become acquainted with an amazing treat: roasted apples! For all the gazillion ways in which I’ve been enjoying apples every autumn I can’t believe I never tried roasting them until now. The irresistible part is the caramelized crust that forms on the bottom from the sugars in the apple. I roasted a bunch of slices to make today’s panini, but there really weren’t many to work with once I started snacking on them.

I must thank a Panini Happy reader, Meaghan from Vancouver, for suggesting roasted apples as a panini ingredient. She submitted an On Your Grill idea recently that incorporated both roasted apples and Brie and the combination has been on my mind ever since. In keeping with autumn flavors, I decided to add in some pecans and grill it all on cinnamon raisin bread. Just wow.

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Continue reading "Roasted Apples, Brie & Pecan Panini" >>

© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/roasted-apples-brie-pecan-panini/

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As much as I enjoyed the summer, for some reason I couldn’t be happier for the arrival of autumn. The seasons don’t really change here in San Diego but the temperature does slip below 75°, the locals return to the tourist attractions without long lines and folks switch out their white shorts for khaki. It’s how we know autumn is here.

I mostly look forward to autumn for the food. Pumpkin tops the list of foods I pretty much only eat at this time of year.  Pumpkin French Toast was a real hit in our house – homemade pumpkin yeast bread cut into fun pumpkin shapes, soaked in a spiced egg batter and grilled on the panini press (grill marks make them look even more like pumpkins, right?).

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© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/pumpkin-french-toast/

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Many of you commented that the Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam was your favorite of the three spreads I featured last week. I really enjoyed that one too. It’s so versatile – I’ve mainly been incorporating it into panini (no surprise) but it also goes well alongside roasts, tossed with pasta, mixed into frittatas…the list goes on.

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Continue reading "Turkey & Gruyere Panini with Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam" >>

© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/turkey-gruyere-panini-with-roasted-garlic-onion-jam/

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Since I was so busy preparing spreads for Condiment Week last week and didn’t have a chance to share any new panini recipes featuring them, that’s what I’m doing this week. I must say, it’s a real treat to try out new sandwiches when you have a bunch of homemade condiments on hand!

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Continue reading "Grilled Cheddar Panini with Apple Chutney" >>

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Me: By the way, apple chutney contains 10 cloves of garlic…

Husband: <grumble, grumble, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…>

Something about the architecture of our house seems to drive kitchen aromas straight upstairs to the bedrooms to linger for many hours after the meal is over. My husband is always a bit curious to see what I’m concocting on the stove to get a heads up on what his nose will be falling asleep to later in the evening. Last night’s Apple Chutney definitely sent him to dreamland with a high degree of pungency. But in a good way!

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Continue reading "Condiment Week! ~ Apple Chutney" >>

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Condiment Week continues with Lemon Aïoli!

It’s true what everyone says – once you make your own mayonnaise the jarred stuff just never quite measures up. What was once a means to keep your sandwich from being overly dry becomes a significant flavor enhancer in its own right. While aïoli isn’t quite exactly the same as mayonnaise, it’s often used interchangeably in cooking and I definitely enjoy both in panini.

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It’s Condiment Week on Panini Happy!

There’s nothing like bright, flavorful condiments to kick up panini, so I thought I’d step away from the grill this week and focus on these often unsung treats. I’ll be making three different ones this week – first up is Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of caramelized onions – I’ve used them again and again in past panini. Onion jam takes the concept to the next level – a bit more sugar, balsamic vinegar for a little acidity, and even longer cooking time. It’s worth it, believe me. I never knew onions could be this (pleasingly) sweet. This particular recipe incorporates roasted garlic, which makes it even better!

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© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/condiment-week-roasted-garlic-onion-jam/

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Would you believe me if I told you this was among the most challenging panini I’ve posted thus far?

Before I explain why all the fuss, I’ll first let you in on what you’re looking at. We’ve got homemade peanut butter, homemade strawberry jam (my first jam ever!), and fresh banana grilled on sliced buttery brioche. Luxe all the way!

Through My Lens is a blog event that my friend Kristen (of Dine & Dish) recently launched in conjunction with her new food photography blog, Culinary Snapshot. This time around participating bloggers will be posting their best shots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As someone who photographs sandwiches on a pretty regular basis, I thought this event would be right up my alley.

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Continue reading "PB & J (and B!) Panini" >>

© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/pb-j-and-b-panini/

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One thing is for certain – there are a good many “Top Panini Chefs” among you! Thanks so much to everyone for participating in last week’s challenge. I was so impressed – and enticed! – by all of your deliciously creative panini ideas.

A few in particular really had my mouth watering – I just might make these soon:

#20 Jim - “My number one selling Panini at my wine bar is Brie/apple and walnuts on grilled tandoori bread”

#24 Maria - “I would go for sourdough bread with brie, honey, pears, and fresh rosemary! I love it when the brie gets melty with the sweet honey and pears. The rosemary takes it to a new level too! A divine panini indeed!”

#39 Erin - “I wonder if it wouldn’t be really yummy to make some sort of homemade savory pumpkin spiked bread and then melt chocolate, walnuts, and marshmallow inside.”

And now for the  giveaway winners (randomly selected via random.org)…

The Breville Panini Grill goes to…#59 Sarah Rose!

The ‘wichcraft cookbook goes to…#57 Kelly!

Congratulations to both of you – and thank you all for playing!  A heartfelt thanks to Breville for providing such terrific prizes.

© Panini Happy, 2009. | Permalink: http://paninihappy.com/congrats-to-the-giveaway-winners/

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