Hello everyone. I am here to introduce you to Nathan’s best friend, the panini.
You can put just about anything on a panini. I saw Giada de laCleavage put pears + honey on one the other day — but Nathan would call that sacrilege. If I’m cooking for Nathan, I always start with some sort of meat. I am using thin-sliced pancetta, because I had some leftover from a recipe. Put it in a hot skillet and let it cook up just like bacon. (It pretty much IS bacon.) Lay it on some paper towels to drain.
Pour the grease out of the pan into a little jar. My dad has always done this, so I do, too. The difference is, he actually uses it at some point.
Slice up an onion.
Throw the slices in the pan + don’t let them out until they are soft, brown, and super sweet. Like my sister Molly.
Take the pan off the heat + throw some spinach on there just until it’s wilted.
Mix it with the onions and set them aside to wait their turn.
Slice up some cheese (I like fresh mozzarella for its meltability). Cheese is very important. You can leave pretty much anything off a panini except the bread and the cheese.
By now your baby is probably upset that you haven’t helped him do the macarena (his new favorite thing) in at least 15 minutes, so go ahead and put him down for a nap.
Lastly, get out something special, like fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, or, in my case, marinated artichoke hearts. Nathan loves these for some reason. Slice ‘em up real nice.
Now for the secret ingredient …. BREAD. I think this is the best way to slice it for maximum crispiness:
Assemble yourself a panini! Pretend you work at Subway.
Sometimes sliced artichokes look like tiny squids. Don’t let that put you off. They don’t taste even remotely seafoodish.
Now it’s time to grill it. But first, if you are feeling particularly naughty (and let’s be honest, I usually am), slather both sides with butter.
Get your heating implement ready. This is where the young sandwich turns into a full-grown panini.
Hello, George.
Open wide!
(Please try to refrain from licking your computer.)
Serve it up with a simple salad and voila! A panini by Jax.*
*Not to be confused with Buttons by Brite.
16 Comments
You must be extremely talented because I don’t like paninis, and I don’t like to read about cooking, but waddyouknow, I enjoyed that post!
You’re a great cook/wife/mom! I love scones too, btw
I WANT ONE OF THOSE RIGHT NOW! (Do I sound like Eli when he’s having macarena withdrawal?)
Please make these for us when you come down Next Weekend (!!!!!!!!). I will hold the baby as long as you want in exchange for the panini.
Love the Giada deLaCleavage comment!
I made this today,for Father’s Day, according to your specific directions, and it was AMAZING! The combination of the fresh mozzarella, the artichoke hearts, and the salty pancetta (which our Publix keeps behind the counter for some reason…possibly because of it’s price!) really makes this a special sandwich. And the onions and spinach make it healthy :)
Thanks for posting this tutorial. I honestly would not have made this had I not seen the pictures. Giada’s got nuthin’ on you, Jax (..not even the cleavage, with your nursing and all…)
Tell Nathan Happy Father’s Day from his favorite Mother-in-law -
i helped make them and they were super delish.
(almost) all of the kids liked them a lot. daniel was the only one who really liked the artichoke hearts .
i like your comment about the onions/molly
First of all, you’re so awesome. Secondly, I consider myself a panini-fanatic. Really, any really good sandwhich satisfies me, though. In other time and place, I would have been Joey’s GF. Hah. Furthermore, your mom’s comment about your cleavage made me almost pee my pants. My only complain: please do not consider you making a panini anything like working at subway. That’s just wrong, Jax. This guy would totally back me up on that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akZ-edeKDXs
I love you. I miss you. I wish you could come and teach my children the macarena. You’re the most fun Aunt ever.
Wow! I’ve been longing for one of these since we’ve been staying with my parents. My panini grill has been at our house in AL. Now that all of our personal effects are in a nearby storage facility, I’ll have access to it again! However, I feel very silly. My parents have a George Foreman grill. I could’ve had one all along.
I enjoyed your narrative.
Jax, I did not see your blog on these until after I had eaten them for Father’s day. They were delicious. Thanks for coaching your mom (and hunter) in the special meal. Your blog with kid comments is great.
I really liked the artichoke hearts.
Pretty cool post. I just found your site and wanted to say
that I have really liked browsing your posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon!
Yay! You have a blog! Was just thinking about you and wondering how you were doing after the move/how’s Eli,etc… and stumbled across this. So great!
(And now I’m also inspired to make paninis for dinner tonight- a double blessing I guess.) :)
Hah. Hah. Hah. Funny, but not very nice. You’ve always been more naughty than nice, though. Could you come make one for me? We have no groceries in the house right now and I’m starving…
The panini post was great….But shall we have another? post, that is.
Or are you waiting to get here so you can post about your wonderful parents and siblings?
Like a cowboy boot!
http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a25c3921b544cb3011b5687ab2c00bd
to think that @ HQ you made me ramen noodles :) and somehow I was considered a cook with roast beef in a crock pot and mashed potatoes! Look how far we have come…btw I am planning on making this this weekend! oh and registering for a george ;)