Picnics

Among the delights of summer were picnics in the woods....

phot0: Country Living

~Heirloom Tomato & Truffle Cheese Panini Ingredients~

~Heirloom & Truffle Cheese Panini~

~Classic Fully Loaded Submarine Sandwich~

~Recipe for Heirloom Tomato & Truffle Cheese Panini~

1 loaf parbaked Demi Pain Rustique bread (Trader Joe's)

heirloom tomatoes (I used baby tomatoes~you could use the larger heirloom tomato variety, sliced)

Truffle Italian Cheese (Trader Joe's) or use your favorite cheese

1 small sweet onion, sliced very thin

baby lettuce

dried oregano, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon~to your taste

light olive oil mayonnaise

truffle oil, optional

olive oil

balsamic vineger

electric panini maker, grill pan or cast iron skillet

~To make~

1. Slice open the bread, lengthwise in 1/2, leaving one side attached.

2. Lightly spread with mayonnaise.

3. On one side of the bread place a layer of lettuce.

4. Top this with thinly sliced onion.

5. Add a thin layer of cheese, sliced.

6. Then add your tomatoes. If using heirloom cherry tomatoes, cut in half.

6. Sprinkle the tomatoes with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, a drizzle of truffle oil or olive oil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, then a dash of salt and pepper.

7. Press the top down on the sandwich. Lightly brush with olive oil or truffle oil.

8. Place on a preheated panini electric grill or on a hot cast iron skillet and top sandwich with a heavy heat safe object to press the sandwich down, turning the sandwich over to make sure both sides are toasted.

9. Toast to your liking. Remove. Let sit 5 minutes before slicing with a serrated knife.

Serve or wrap with foil to take to your picnic site!

~Recipe for Classic Sub~

1 Ciabatta loaf or french bread loaf.

1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into very thin rings.

1/2 sweet onion, sliced into very thin rings.

your favorite lettuce leaves (not iceberg)

sliced turkey

sliced ham

sliced provolone

pre-cooked bacon slices

1/4 cup light olive oil mayonaise

1 tablespoon, sweet pickle relish

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

1 teaspoon ketchup

~To Make~

1. Slice bread in 1/2 lengthwise leaving one side attached.

2. Toast bread under the broiler until light golden brown.

3. Remove bread from oven and turn the oven setting to 350 degrees. Set the bread aside.

4. Make sauce for bread by combining the mayo, mustard, ketchup & pickle relish together. Spread on the toasted cut sides of the bread.

5. Add a layer of lettuce.

6. Add bell pepper slices.

7. Add onion slices.

8. Add meats.

9. Add cheese.

10. Close the top. Place on foil. Slice, but keep whole, being careful not to cut through the foil. If you do, just add another layer of foil to seal. Place in oven for 10 minutes to warm a little.

11. Remove from oven, slice and serve, or if taking to a picnic, keep it wrapped until you serve it.

~Enjoy your excursion out of doors~take in the beauty of the landscape and the joy of partaking of a meal with those you love~