Grilled Italian vegetable panini

This grilled vegetable panini sandwich is made with a combination of grilled summer vegetables, creamy fresh mozzarella on pesto lined Italian bread then the entire sandwich is grilled to golden brown goodness, for an easy satisfying summer meal that’s totally vegetarian.

There is something about lightly charred summer grilled vegetables sandwiched together with creamy fresh mozzarella that is just so good.

I love a good Italian panini sandwich something that’s easy to put together and delicious.

Tips and tricks when you make Grilled Italian vegetable panini

1. Vegetables: I used eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers they are easy to grill and have so much flavor. You can customize this veggie panini by adding or subtracting your favorite vegetable .
2. Pesto: I used homemade pesto if you want a short cut use a good quality store-bought pesto.
3. Bread: A good sandwich starts with good bread. I love a crusty sliced Italian bread but your favorite sliced  bread will work great in this recipe. Sliced ciabatta is another great choice.
4.  The grill: I use a cast iron indoor grill pan( one of my most used pan) but the vegetables can be grilled  on an outside grill along with your BBQ.

Ingredients

• 4 slices Italian bread
• 1 eggplant
• 2 zucchini
• 1 red  bell pepper
• 4 slices fresh mozzarella
• 1/2 cup pesto
• 2 Tbsp. butter

Instructions

1. Using a kitchen knife Slice the eggplant, red bell pepper and zucchini into thin slices. Then sprinkle with  the Italian herbs, salt, pepper and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil
2. On a preheated indoor or out grill grill the vegetables until cooked and slightly charred.
3. Spread the bread slices with the pesto
4. Assemble the panini by lining with the vegetables and cheese. Add the butter to a flat pan. Grill the sandwiches until golden brown on both sides about 5 minutes per side. using a spatula to press the sandwich flat. ENJOY !!!

Oven Roasted Chicken Philly Sandwich

This lightened up version oven roasted chicken Philly sandwich takes the guilt out of eating fried foods. Not that I have any guilt in the first place with the traditional version of the fried Philly cheese steak.

Oh the Philly Cheese steak, and my love affair with it began in our first little hole in the wall Submarine sandwich shop.

My mama who worked with me until she couldn’t anymore, would start frying the onions and peppers just about lunch time. The aroma from the onions and peppers could be smelled blocks away, following it to our little hole in the wall. It was a smart marketing tool in the pre social media years.

In that version we used rib eye steak, bell peppers  fried it  topped it with provolone cheese and severed it on sub rolls.

As I get older I have make healthier variations to old classic recipes, I try to use leaner meats and healthier cooking processes that use less oil. And if it can be attempted to oven roasting in one pan, than that my friends is recipe success!!!

Here’s how I made this oven roasted chicken Philly Sandwich

First For this easy and quick chicken Philly sandwich I used my Cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer to roast all the ingredients for this delicious recipe, which I use often for small roast or bakes.

Second start by slicing the chicken breast in half in same size pieces for even cooking. I used 1 green and 1 red bell pepper you can use any color you like or have on hand and sliced them into strips along with 1 yellow onion.

And lastly the provolone cheese is a personal preference, use whatever cheese you like, sharp cheddar is delicious!!!

One more thing please leave me a comment. I love hearing from you. It’s my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

1. 4 skinless boneless chicken breast
2. 1 red and one green bell pepper cut in strips
3. 1 sliced onion
4. 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
5. 8 slices provolone cheese
6. 4 sub rolls
7. 2 tablespoons  olive oil
8. Salt and pepper to taste
9. juice from one lemon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Cut chicken breast in half
3. In a bowl put the oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper
4. Toss the chicken, peppers and onions in the marinade
5. Roast in a 375degree oven for 20 minutes add the cheese last 5 minutes
6. Serve on buttered toasted  hoagie rolls

Tuna Melt Panini Sandwich Recipe

Say goodbye to boring sandwiches with this Tuna melt Panini Sandwich recipe.

Sandwiches have come a long way since we opened our first eatery, a little hole in the wall Submarine sandwich shop. It was put  together by homemade labor and sometimes held together by duct tape.

This Tuna Melt panini sandwich recipe was inspired by a tuna sub sandwich that was on the menu and very popular. In this level up recipe I added the salty brine flavored and artichoke hearts.

In the sandwich shop we used foot long white or wheat sandwich rolls especially made for us. Now with so many flavors and flour blends the choices are endless!!

What I used To Use To make this tuna melt panini sandwich

We all need two good quality grill pans, one flat surface and one ridged.

In this Tuna Melt Panini Sandwich recipe I used my cast iron ridged one. I use this one when I want the grilled panini effect and grilling meat in doors, and the flat one when I don’t.

The tuna I used was Albacore white tuna,  the same brand we  used in the restaurants. Really though does anyone use the old stuff anymore?

The bread you use in this sandwich or any sandwich or panini is important, since traditional sandwiches and most panini recipes mainly are made up of some kind of filling sandwiched together by two slices of bread.

In this recipe I used a sliced and seeded multi grain, you can use any bread that fits your lifestyle and taste.

You may have noticed  salt wasn’t in the ingredient list in this tuna recipe, that’s because canned  tuna tends to salty.

And one more thing I use is your comments to better answer your food questions, please leave me one .

Ingredients

• 2 cans Albacore tuna packed in water
• 1/2 chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup drained capers
• 1/4 cup chopped artichokes
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tb. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tb. juice from the capers
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Drain the tuna over a fine wire strainer pressing to extract all the water
2. In a medium bowl mix the mayonnaise, mustard, caper juice and black pepper
3. Add the capers and artichokes
4. Mix in the tuna breaking it up with a fork
5. Lightly butter 4 slices of multi grain bread
6. Heat skillet over medium heat add 2 slices of the bread buttered side down top with the tuna, cheese cover with the other slice buttered side up
7. Grill until well browned on medium low heat about 5 minutes
8. With a spatula flip, pressing the panni down with the back of the spatula and grill on the other side until golden

Air fryer Chicken Parmesan Sliders

These  Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan sliders are not your typical sandwiches. No, this little sandwiches are bursting with melt in your mouth parmesan chicken tenders, marinara, and oozing with cheese.  Our first eatery was a hole in the wall submarine sandwich sub, and this chicken parmesan sandwich was one of the top sellers.

Many years later it’s still the same ingredients, but I’ve lightened it up by using my air fryer, instead of frying the chicken in oil. Like I said many times before my Toaster Oven/ Air fryer is my most used small kitchen appliance.

3 Tips When Making Air fryer Chicken Parmesan Sliders

When making these Air fryer Chicken Parmesan Sliders you can use chicken tenders or the less expensive whole chicken breast.

But if you  are using the full breast be sure to cut them the same size for even cooking. Second, don’t crowd the fryer basket, leave enough room  between the chicken for the air to circulate for even browning.

Third,  if you want a crisper crust spray the chicken with oil spay. I didn’t use any oil spray in this recipe. Just one more thing ,

please leave me a comment if you make this recipe and please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram. I love hearing from you, it’s my favorite part!!!!

Ingredients

• 1 Lb. chicken tenders
• 4 crusty Italian rolls
• 2 cup grated bread crumbs
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbls. chopped Italian parsley
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 2 Tbs. milk
• 2 cups prepared marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Salt and pepper the chicken
2. Mix the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and Italian parsley together
3. In a separate bowl mix the egg and milk together
4. Dip the chicken first in the egg mixture than the bread crumbs pressing breadcrumbs into the chicken
5. Turn air fryer to 400  set timer for 12 to 15 minutes
6. In the air fryer basket lay the chicken tenders flat being sure not to overcrowd them
7. Air fry the chicken tenders 5 to 7 minutes per side
8. Turn air fryer to bake option set at 350  toast the buns until warm and crisp
9. Meanwhile warm the prepared marinara sauce
10. Top the toasted buns with the chicken then the marinara sauce and mozzarella
11. Return to oven and toast just until the cheese melts

Buffalo Langostino Lobster Bruschetta

Don’t let the sound of this Buffalo Langostino Lobster Bruschetta intimidate  you.  It’s an easy recipe and affordable too when you use langostino lobster.

Consumers are attracted to using langostino lobster for two main reasons size and cost. The size of the langostino tail is ideal for cooks looking for bite size portions of meat. Moreover the price of langostino lobster is well under half the price of lobster.

As far as am concerned, they taste and eat pretty much the same and are prefect in this bruschetta recipe.

Langostino lobster is an affordable alternative to higher priced shellfish, and can be used in any recipe that calls for lobster, shrimp or crab.

How To Make This Buffalo Langostino Lobster Bruschetta

Start making this Buffalo Langostino Lobster Bruschetta by first toasting some really good crusty Italian bread spread with some really good pesto store bought or homemade. Next simmer the butter and Franks Hot sauce on low heat, stirring constantly.

Third you can prepare the topping ahead of time and assemble the bruschetta just before serving. This is a delicious recipe made more affordable by using less expensive Langostino Lobster.

I hope you try it and please don’t forget to leave me a command. I love hearing from you it’s my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

• 8 slices crusty Italian bread
• 1 cup prepared pesto sauce
• 1/2 lb. langostino lobster meat
• 1 cup Frank’s Hot sauce
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
• 1 grated carrot
• 1 stalk thinly sliced celery
• 1 bunch thinly sliced radishes
• 1/2 small dice red onion
• 1 Tbls. chopped garlic
• Juice from one lemon
• 1 Tbls. chopped Italian parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Spread the bread with the pesto sauce toast until golden brown
2. Meanwhile in a medium saute pan heat the butter to medium high
3. Add the Garlic saute until tender and just beginning to brown
4. Add the hot sauce simmer until the sauce thickens slightly about 5 minutes
5. Add the lobster simmer 5 minutes more
6. Make the celery slaw by mixing the celery, carrot, radishes, Italian parsley, gorgonzola and lemon juice
7. Mix the buffalo lobster with the celery slaw
8. Top the toasted pesto bread with the lobster mixture….. ENJOY!!!!

Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches

These Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches are the last of my Thanksgiving left over meals. Tender juicy slices of turkey breast topped with my best ever cranberry sauce and melted brie cheese.

It’s like eating Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich.

Don’t save this sandwich just for leftover Thanksgiving Turkey, if you craving Thanksgiving in December store bough turkey works in this sandwich too. 

What you need to make Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches

Besides the ingredients in this Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches  you need a flat griddle pan to grill the sandwiches to a beautiful golden brown while melting the cheese. I have two flat griddle pans one cast iron with ridges and one flat.

I used the flat one to make these sandwiches, but I think next time I will use the cast iron ridge griddle for a panni style sandwich.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. leftover  cooked Thanksgiving turkey breast
• 4 slices good quality multigrain bread
• 1 cup my home made cranberry sauce
• 4 0z. thinly sliced brie
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a flat skillet over medium heat
2. Add the bread toast lightly on each side
3. Layer the lightly toasted bread with the sliced turkey, brie cheese and cranberry sauce
4. Continue cooking until cheese starts to melt
5. Put the sandwiches you will have two, together and press down with the back of a spatula
6. Cook just a few minutes longer on each side until a golden brown

Saucy Philly Sub

Oh, the Saucy Philly Sub and my love affair with it began in our first little hole in the wall Submarine sandwich shop.

My mama who worked with me until she couldn’t anymore, would start frying the onions and peppers just about lunch time. The aroma from the onions and peppers could be smelled blocks away, following it to our little hole in the wall.

It was a smart marketing tool before the social media years. In that version we used rib eye steak, provolone cheese, and green bell  peppers and severed it on sub rolls.

This recipe is basically the same the difference is I used a mix of peppers from my garden and topped them with house made marinara. I’ve also make it using chicken breast and experiencing with different cheeses.

These recipe lends it’s self to experimentation so have fun and experiment. If you put good ingredients in the finished product will be good too.What I do When I make Saucy Philly Subs

I don’t tell you how much salt to use in any of my recipes, that’s a personal taste. what might be salty to me might be bland to you. keep in mind less is more, you can add, subtracting is a little harder.

I buy the steak at Trader Joe’s, but you can ask you butcher to slice it for you, if you want a fancier sandwich use thicker sliced meat, any way you slice it, it’s delicious,

comes together quick, is easy and it’s one of those family pleasing meals for the picky eaters, because your able to add, subtract, and change ingredients, to fit your

lifestyle.  Another thing is I  use my Cuisinart toaster /fryer oven to toast the bread instead of turning on my large wall ovens.

The toaster oven gets  more use than my large ovens for small for small jobs like this it’s prefect……Enjoy!!!!

Ingredients For Two

• 1/2 pound shaved rib eye steak
• 1 red and one green bell pepper cut in strips
• 1 sliced onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup prepared Marinara
• 1 12 inch Italian baguette
• Salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil
• 1 tablespoon each chopped Italian parsley, basil,  oregano, and red pepper flakes

Instruction

1. Heat oil until smoking hot
2. Saute peppers, onions and garlic until tender and just beginning to brown
3. Add steak  brown, salt and pepper to taste
4. Add herbs
5. Turn off heat and add the cheese
6.  Toast baguette
7. Fill Baguette with steak mixture
8. Pour 1/2 cup hot  prepared marinara over each
9. Serve on toasted baguette and Enjoy!!!!

Philly Burger

The Philly Cheese steak and my love affair with it began in our first little hole in the wall Submarine sandwich shop.

This Philly Burger has all the flavors of the classic cheese steak and elevates it to higher level with a juicy cheese burger that will have you drooling from the smell of the onions and peppers frying.

My mama who worked with me until she couldn’t anymore, would start frying the onions and peppers just about lunch time. The aroma from the onions and peppers could be smelled blocks away, following it to our little hole in the wall. It was a smart marketing tool in the pre social media years. In that version we used rib eye steak, provolone cheese and severed it on sub rolls, shown I served it on  brioche buns and sharp cheddar cheese

Make it Your Own

In this Philly Burger I used a 4 oz. beef patty and sharp cheddar cheese. That’s not what you have to use, you can try the same recipe with a chicken burger, a veggie burger or leave the burger out altogether.

If you want to go the vegetarian route use tofu instead of the steak or just use onions and peppers smothered in the cheese of your choice is delicious too.  I’ve also make it using chicken breast and experiencing with different cheeses.

This recipe lends it’s self to experimentation so have fun and experiment.

I buy the steak at Trader Joe’s, but you can ask you butcher to slice it for you, if you want a fancier sandwich use thicker sliced meat, any way you slice it, it’s delicious, comes together quick, is easy and it’s one of those family pleasing meals for the picky eaters,

because your able to add, subtract, and change ingredients, to fit your lifestyle and taste!!!

Restaurant style recipes, made easy for the home cook…..Enjoy!!!!

Ingredients

1/2 pound shaved rib eye steak

4 6 oz. burger patties

1 red and one green bell pepper cut in strips

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 sliced onion

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

8 slices sharp cheddar

4 Brioche rolls

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons each butter and olive oil

1 tablespoon each chopped Italian parsley, basil,  oregano, and red pepper flakes

Instruction

heat oil and butter until smoking hot

saute burgers to your liking 3 t0 4 minutes per side for medium rare

Remove burgers set aside

Saute peppers, mushrooms, onions and garlic until tender and just beginning to brown

Add steak  brown, salt and pepper to taste

Add herbs

Turn off heat and add the cheese

Butter buns and toast

Top buns first with the burger then the Philly steak

• Adjust salt and pepper and Enjoy!!!

Meatball Garlic Toast

I love Meatballs as much as I love Pasta and for the same reasons. They’re just so easy, delicious, versatile and everyone loves them. This meatball garlic toast uses my  Mama’s traditional meatball  recipe reconstruct to fit my lifestyle and taste, using ground Turkey breast. While ground turkey isn’t my favorite I use it when I want a healthier option, plus you can never go wrong with Meatballs.

Plenty of Parmesan with a few simple ingredients and plenty of fresh herbs, turned that flavorless ground turkey into something totally drool worthy.

Three Tips When Making meatballs

First  when mixing  the meat into the other ingredients don’t over mix or overcook, both lead to tough hard meatballs.

A case in point to the last sentence, a new prep cook was mixing the mixture in the dough mixer, and that explained why the meatballs were rock hard. There is no nice way to put it, they were not good.

The other thing to remember is that  the meatballs are cooked twice first roasted, then in the sauce, so it’s easy to overcook them. Roasting the meatballs adds another depth of flavor and beautiful  color.

I try to use my handy- dandy toaster oven whenever I can. I don’t like turning on my oven every time I need to toast something, my toaster oven is one of my most used small kitchen appliances, if you don’t have one they’re well worth the 100.00 dollars they cost.

Third this is another custom-able recipe, if you like the traditional use a high grade ground beef, or a mixture of chicken, beef, or veal.

Experiment,  food and cooking is mean’t to be fun and enjoyable, I have simplified and gave you made ahead tips to make cooking a journey, not a destination always learning, always finding new ingredients to satisfy our changing life style and diet…..Have Fun!!!

Ingredients

• 1 Lbs. ground turkey breast
• 6 slices crusty Italian Bread cut medium thick on a diagonal
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped  Italian parsley
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbs. each chopped garlic and onion
• Salt and pepper
• 4 cups prepared  marinara sauce
• 1 stick butter softened
• 1/2 cup each mozzarella, parmesan and sharp cheddar
• 3 tablespoons each chopped Italian parsley, garlic and onion
  Instructions
• Preheat oven to 350
• In a bowl make the cheesy garlic butter by mixing the last 4 ingredients
• Spread the garlic mixture on the bread slices
• toast in for 10 minutes
• Mix egg, bread crumbs, parsley,  garlic, onion, parmesan  salt and pepper ending with the meat
• Shape into golf size balls
• Roast in a preheated 350 oven until light golden brown about 10 minutes
• Cook an additional 20 minutes in simmering homemade marinara sauce
• Top garlic toast with 2 meatballs top with additional mozzarella
• Return to oven just to melt the cheese

Ricotta Tart

Am sharing one of my favorite savory recipes Ricotta tart. It’s an extra easy recipe if you use store bought puff pastry. If you just want or need easy, then store bought is the way to go.

Puff pastry is a light, buttery, flaky dough used in both savory and sweet recipes. This is a savory recipe that combines the buttery light taste of the crust, and mild flavor of asparagus with the bold, salty flavor of the prosciutto for a burst of Italian flavors your family and friends will love.

This is a prefect brunch, lunch or add a simply salad and it’s a prefect light dinner any night of the week. It’s a quick, easy, delicious recipe that comes together in less than a hour,  but your family and friends will think it took much longer.

How To Make Ricotta Tart

Start by defrosting the puff pastry for 30 minutes, roll ONE sheet to a 9 x 12 rectangle, lay it on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Now with a fork prick the dough all over leaving a 1/2 inch border unpunchered to allow puffing. brush the crust edges with melted butter. Prebake the crust so you don’t end up with a wet soggy shell, then add the filling and return the tart to the oven.

This ricotta tart can be make ahead of time or in stages, making the crust the day before then finishing it just before serving. It keeps for 2 to 3 three days in your fridge and is freezer friendly.

If you make this recipe please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with your creations. I love hearing from you!!!

Ingredients

• 1 store bought puff pastry dough
• 2 cups low fat ricotta
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 slices chopped prosciutto
• 2 cups asparagus
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 Tablespoon each  chopped Italian parsley, basil and thyme

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. On a lightly floured broad roll 1 sheet of puff pastry into a 8 x 12 rectangle
3. With a fork prick the pastry leaving 1/2 inch border unpunchered
4. Bake 15 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned  on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet
5. Meanwhile make filling
6. Saute the onions and garlic until tender and just beginning to brown
7. Add the asparagus and 1/4 cup water steam for 5 minutes add chopped spinach last minute
8. Mix the ricotta with the parmesan cheese and beaten egg salt and pepper to taste
9. Spread the ricotta mixture and over pastry crust
10. Top the ricotta mixture with the asparagus mixture and chopped prosciutto
11. Sprinkle with additional parmesan and herbs
12. Brush edges with 1 tablespoon melted butter
13. Return to oven and bake an additional 15 minutes