A Grown Up Grilled Cheese

Do you guys have a pannini press?  If you don't...please, please go out and get yourself one!  They make the absolute best sandwiches ever!  From a simple grilled cheese for your kids to a fancy dessert sandwich....you name it you can make it!  This past Sunday night I was dead tired from having a little bit too much fun at a Christmas party.  We also were trying to put up our Christmas tree and half our lights would not work.  My husband had to go on a wild goose chase to find some more lights. Would you believe he went to 5 large chain stores and all of them were out of lights?  That is a whole new story!  Anyway, long story short neither one of us were in the mood to make dinner a big production.  I was in the mood for a pannini sandwich and just a big bowl of Campbell's Tomato Soup.  I came up with a great pannini that included a nice salty pancetta and a sweet fig spread that you can find at Whole Foods.  This spread is great!  Serve it with any kind of salty meat or cheese with crackers or bread...to die for!


PANCETTA & SWEET FIG SPREAD PANNINI 

* Makes 4 sandwiches

• 1/2 lb. thin sliced pancetta
• 8 slices thin italian bread / pannini bread

• 4 slices provolone cheese
• olive oil
• 2 TB. Organic Adriatic Fig Spread

1. Drizzle one side of each piece of bread with olive oil
2. Place 4 slices of bread olive oil side down, on the pannini press.
3. With a butter knife smooth 1/2 TB of the fig spread over each piece of bread.
4. Layer a few pieces of pancetta over the fig spread.
5. Place a piece of provolone over the pancetta.
6. Place a piece of bread, olive oil side up, over the provolone.
7. Close the pannini press top and grill for about 5 minutes.
8. Take sandwiches off the pannini press and cut each sandwich in half and place on plate.