Mini Cheese Sandwiches Panini With Mozzarella And Olive Tapenade Recipes

MINI CHEESE AND OLIVE CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine cheeses, olives, and Italian seasoning. On a floured surface, unroll crescent dough in 1 piece. Roll out to a 16 by 8-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, slice into 8 (4 by 4-inch) squares. Place 2 tablespoons of filling on half of each square. Lightly moisten the edges with water, fold dough over, and seal, pressing with fork tines. Using the points of the fork, pierce vents into top of each calzone. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Serve hot.

MUFFULETTA PANINI

Steps:

• Brush both sides of bread lightly with butter.
• Layer 4 slices cheese over four of the slices of bread.
• Top with olive salad, ham, mortadella, salami, remaining cheese and bread.
• Cook sandwiches in a preheated panini press until golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes.
• Note: Sandwiches may be cooked in a preheated ridged grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Place a heavy skillet on top of sandwiches to flatten; cook 3 minutes. Turn; replace skillet and continue to cook 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted.

MOZZARELLA AND PROSCIUTTO SANDWICHES WITH TAPENADE

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in mortar; mash with pestle to paste. Add 1 cup olives and mash to coarse paste. Chop remaining 1/4 cup olives and stir into mixture. Mix in 1/4 cup olive oil, chopped basil, and lemon juice. Season tapenade with pepper. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Brush cut sides of ficelle with additional olive oil. Place 1 prosciutto slice on bottom half of each ficelle, then top with mozzarella slices, dividing equally. Spoon tapenade over each. Sprinkle with pepper; drizzle lightly with olive oil. Garnish with basil leaves. Cover with top halves of ficelle.

PROSCIUTTO, MOZZARELLA AND CITRUS TAPENADE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• For pesto:
• Toast walnuts in small skillet over medium heat until golden brown, stirring often. Cool. Puree walnuts, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic in processor to paste, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add half of basil leaves; puree. Add remaining basil; blend until coarse puree forms. Season pesto to taste with salt and pepper.
• For sandwiches:
• Brush 1 side of each bread slice with olive oil. Heat griddle or heavy large skillet over medium-high heat; grill bread, oiled side down, until golden brown, about 1 minute. Transfer grilled bread to clean work surface; let stand until cool. Turn 4 bread slices over (grilled side down) and spread thin layer of Citrus Tapenade evenly over each. Top with prosciutto slices, then mozzarella cheese slices. Drizzle with pesto. Drizzle 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar over ungrilled side of each of 4 remaining bread slices. Place bread, grilled side up, atop sandwich filling. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.