Weekend Fare: Grilled Sandwiches

It's impossible to describe just how much I love grilled sandwiches and paninis. Let's just say, I can get pretty excited about a good sandwich. I don't have a panini press so I order them out sometimes. And for us, the sky is the limit when we are grilling sandwiches. So today, I'm going to give you some ideas that hopefully you can take off with to make your own perfect sandwich. Grilled sandwiches are great for on-the-go weekends or for enjoying with a bowl of soup and company.



All sandwiches start the same - two pieces of bread buttered (or drizzled with oil) on the outside. The kind of bread is totally up to you.

Some Favorites:
Sourdough
Rye or Pumpernickel
Farm
Whole wheat
White
Raisin Cinnamon

Then add some kind of spread to the inside of the bread.

Some Ideas:
Mustard - brown, spicy, dijon, yellow, champagne - there are so many varieties!
Mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip if you are so inclined - we are not :))
Peanut Butter
Honey Mustard (I make my own by combining dijon, mayo, and honey)
BBQ Sauce
Honey
Cranberry Sauce or a Chutney
Olive oil
Flavored Mayonnaise (I like to add Balsamic Vinegar)
Marinara

Next, choose a protein (or two or three).

A Few Ideas:
Cheese
Turkey
Ham
Beef
Pastrami
Peanut Butter (yes, I'm listing it twice - my kids love it!)

Then add toppings. You can add however many you want, in whatever order you want, and at any time (before or after grilling).

Some Many Ideas:
Cheese
Avacado
Cucumber
Pear (thinly sliced)
Apple (thinly sliced)
Orange
Bananas
Tomato
Bacon
Pancetta
Carmalized Onions (or raw - I like red onions)
Peppers (any color - grilled or raw)
Olives
Sauerkraut
Fresh Herbs
Lettuce
Arugula
Spring Mix
Sprouts

I must note that I think most (though definitely not all!) good sandwiches include cheese. So I will list a few that I think are especially excellent on grilled sandwiches but again - choose your favorite!

Cheese (probably my favorite food ever):
Swiss
Provolone (smoked or otherwise)
Fresh Mozzarella
Brie
Havarti
Sharp (or even extra sharp!) Cheddar
Gouda

Choose the ingredients, build your sandwich, and grill it over medium heat (turning once) until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden on each side. Cut in half (or not - I like mine cut diagonally) and enjoy. My kids really like grilled pb & j or pb & honey with bananas. I like pretty much any kind as long as it has cheese.



Yum. Now I want a sandwich!