Chicken Panini

My girls and I love a grilled panini (although Autumn likes hers without the chicken). They look great and taste delicious.

CHICKEN PANINI

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

*italian bread

*1 tomato, sliced thin

*1/4 cup basil pesto

*2 chicken breast halves chicken

*1 teaspoon pepper

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

*1 tablespoon olive oil

*1/2 red onion, sliced thin

*1 cup sharp shredded cheese

Directions:

~Season chicken with salt, pepper & garlic powder.

~Fry chicken in olive oil in a medium skillet.

~Cook until chicken is no longer pink.

~Remove chicken from skillet, and let cool slightly.

~While chicken is cooling, sauté green peppers & red onions for 1-2 minutes.

~Remove from pan.

~Thinly slice chicken breast.

~Preheat stove top grill or panini pan.

~Slice Italian bread to desired thickness

~Spread each half with pesto sauce.

~Layer bottom halves with equal amounts of chicken, green pepper, onion, tomato & cheese.

~Place top half of bread over fillings.

~Butter top of sandwich and place it buttered side down on stove top grill (butter both sides if using a panini maker).

~Put a small cast iron pan, or aluminum foil covered brick over sandwich and press down on sandwich.

~When sandwich is golden brown, butter other side and flip. (if using a panini maker cook about 5 minutes)

~Put pan/brick on sandwich once again, and press down.

~Remove from pan when golden brown.

Variation:

-substitute green pepper for roasted red pepper.

-substitute chicken breast for turkey breast.

Vegetarian Version:

-substitute chicken with zucchini and yellow squash.