I’m pretty sure I have mentioned in a previous post that I am a huge fan of paninis.  There are just so many possibilities!  Tonight, I made a simple yet classic Italian-style panini for dinner: Tomato, Basil, Roasted Pepper, and Mozzarella.

The bread is key for a panini.  I was very excited to find a 4-pack of toasted onion flavor individual ciabatta rolls in the bakery section of Stop & Shop.

Get all your sandwich ingredients ready before you start to assemble:

• Preheat your panini maker (I used my Cuisinart Griddler, of course!) to medium-high.
• Thinly slice 1 roma tomato.
• Cut 4 slices of mozzarella.
• Cut a roasted pepper into 4 pieces.
• Pick and wash some fresh basil.

• Slice the roll in half.
• Drizzle some balsamic vinaigrette onto the bottom half.

Start putting your sandwich together:

• I started with the mozzarella.

• Next, I added the basil.

• Then, I put on the roasted pepper.

• Finish your sandwich with the tomato slices.

• FInish the sandwich by drizzling a little more balsamic vinaigrette onto the top half of the bread.

• Top your sandwich.

• Spray some non-stick cooking spray onto both sides of your panini maker.

• Place the sandwich in the center and press the top down.  (Be careful not to knock the top of the bread off the sandwich when closing!)

• Cook until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted.
• Cut in half and enjoy!