Panini = YUMi

First, I apologize for this horrendous photo. My house has horrible lighting, particularly after the sun goes down. I didn't make it in time to take a decent pic of this meal.
Anyway...
Paninis! Oh my goodness. Ladies if you dare serve your families sandwiches for dinner you will surely get a strange look, a curled up lip and a uuuhhhh ?? sandwiches?? for dinner?? Or, at least you will at my house.
BUT! If you grill them on a fancy grill machine and call them a "Panini" you will get all smiles.
I don't know what it is. I mean It's just basically a grilled turkey and cheese sandwich. But I'm telling you, something magical happens when you squish it all together and get fancy grill marks on it. mmm mmm mmm.
I jokeingly listed on my 2010 post that I wanted a panini press in 2011. I wrote that because at the time I was just hungry and I couldn't think of anything else to write! Although, I HAVE really wanted a panini press for quite some time. I just never could justify paying 50 or 60 bucks for what is basically a waffle iron. I already have one of those that I rarely use. I just happened to be browsing the kitchen area at Target a few weeks ago and found this one on sale for 20 bucks. So I grabbed it. It's not fancy. And I think it would be better if it were actually cast iron instead of just Teflon. (my sandwiches slip around quite a bit when I'm trying to close the lid. I'm thinking cast iron wouldn't do that as much) BUT for 20 dollars, I really can't complain. And I love that I can totally get away with making sandwiches for dinner. Holla!
These that I made last night are rounds of french baguette, provolone cheese, turkey, bacon and avocado. I added tomato and red onion to mine too, but the man and the kids don't like it that way. I also served easy peasy garlic parmesan fries. A recipe (copied here) from this site. And they're baked, not fried SO they're TOTALLY healthy ;)

Garlic Parmesan Oven Fries (copied from What's Cookin' Chicago)
recipe adapted from Tyler Florence
serves 3-4

2 large russet potatoes, scrubbed and dried
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (i just used regular old parm)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley


Preheat the oven to 425.

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Then cut the halves lengthwise into fourths to make 16 big, fat wedges.

Toss the potatoes with the olive oil, salt and minced garlic in a large bowl. Place the potatoes onto a metal baking sheet, spreading to a single layer.

Roast the potatoes for 30-35 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through, brown, and crispy. Don't shake or turn the fries around while they're cooking. The longer they sit in contact with the metal baking sheet, the crisper they get. (This is true! They really do get crispy, I promise!)

Toss the fries in a big bowl with the cheese and parsley and serve hot.

Go get thee a panini press!