A Panini is an Italian grilled cheese sandwich, often with additional ingredients in them, like ham or other meats or fruit along with the cheese.
Panini recipes often call for European cheeses like mozzarella or Swiss, though I've seen some with Asiago and with cheddar. Provolone and Parmesan also show up sometimes. To be authentic use prosciutto or ham, or if you like the more strongly spiced meats pepperoni or salami. Or slice up a red pear instead. Use rye or a good European bread, and instead of buttering the bread you can use olive oil. (A Misto is great for getting the right amount of oil on the bread) A quesadilla is a Mexican inspired grilled cheese sandwich using tortillas (usually flour) and other ingredients to make a round or half round flat snack or entrée item. (This depends on if you use two tortillas or just one to make it) I first encountered quesadillas in tex-mex restaurants around the late 70's, around the time fajitas (which came from the valley, the valley so low in southern Texas) showed up. They started out as just cheese, but soon grew things like spinach, chicken, fajita meat, bacon, mushrooms, and just about anything you can name. My favorite quesadilla mix for personal ones consists of about two cups of shredded cheese, (cheddar, Jack, queso blanco, or one of the fiesta or Mexican cheese blends)half a cup of a good medium heat salsa, one large can of shredded chicken, and a cup and a half of frozen mixed vegetables. (peas, carrots, corn, and green beans) This mixture keeps well in the fridge and will usually make about six quesadillas. Oh, and I forgot, one can of mushrooms, pieces and stems. I take out two tortillas about thirty minutes after I took out the butter to soften, then I butter both well, drop one on the quesadilla maker butter side down, drop enough of the mix to cover evenly, add a bit more cheese for good measure and adhesiveness, then drop the other tortilla on top, butter side up. I close it, plug it in, set the timer for five minutes, and then unplug and grab a spatula to remove it. A quesadilla maker is a good sized device similar to a George Foreman grill, but with no prongs going up or down to hold meat in place and with a pattern that facilitates cutting the quesadilla into six slices. It has a drain receptacle like the Foreman, but the feet are wide enough that I usually just position the drain hole over the edge of the sink. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sheila Rieger Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 5:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [CnD] Waffle irons Hi Nicole, Now you have me intrigued. What is a quesidilla and a panini and how do you make them, and how do they differ from a regular grilled sandwich. Thanks. Sheila Vancouver, Canada. At 10:57 AM 8/5/2011, you wrote: >I suspect you could. That said, my George Foreman is much smaller than my >waffle iron. I also use my quesadilla maker to make grilled sandwiches and >paninis. > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sheila Rieger >Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 12:48 PM >To: Cooking in the Dark >Subject: [CnD] Waffle irons > >Hi, >Can you use a waffle iron to make a grilled sandwich? I guess they >would have a pattern on them but would taste the same >I would love to have a small sandwich grill but don't want a laarge >one like the George Foreman. > >Sheila, >Vancouver, Canada > >_______________________________________________ >Cookinginthedark mailing list >[email protected] >http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark > >_______________________________________________ >Cookinginthedark mailing list >[email protected] >http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list [email protected] http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark _______________________________________________ Cookinginthedark mailing list [email protected] http://acbradio.org/mailman/listinfo/cookinginthedark
