After more than 90 days in a hotel, I have officially gotten bored with my slow-cooker.
But what’s a girl to do with no oven and burners that never get super hot?
Make Panini sandwiches, of course! 
The burners in the hotel may not be the best, but they get hot enough to melt cheese, so they’re perfect for Panini-making.
I already shared one delicious Panini recipe with you. Today, I have three more!
Panini #1:
The Caprese Panini
(Inspired from several similar sandwiches I found across the internet)
Makes two sandwiches
Ingredients:
- 4 slices good, whole-wheat bread (or use crusty French bread for a slightly less healthy but very tasty sandwich!)
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- 1 Roma tomato, thinly sliced
- Handful of basil, torn into pieces
- Several slices of fresh mozzarella cheese (I found this at Whole Foods)
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- After preparing all of your ingredients, start building your Panini. Use a brush (or your hand. whatever.) to brush a little olive oil and vinegar on one side of each piece of bread (you’ll want the oil and vinegar sides of the bread to be on the inside of the sandwich).
- Add cheese, tomato, basil, and salt and pepper before closing your sandwich up. Put your sandwich in the skillet and cook until cheese is melted and bread has browned, flipping once during cooking. (Note: I used something heavy again to press down the sandwich. Looks silly but it works!)
The end product:
I just love all of the fresh ingredients in this Panini.
Be sure not to leave out the balsamic vinegar. It really completes this sandwich!
Panini #2:
The Pesto and Pepper Panini
(Modified from this recipe)
Makes 2 sandwiches
Ingredients:
- 4 slices good whole-wheat bread
- Pesto
- 1 Roma tomato, sliced
- 1/2 green pepper, thinly sliced
- Roasted red peppers (from a jar)
- Mozzarella and parmesan cheese
- Pre-cooked chicken pieces (optional)
Directions:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- After preparing all of your ingredients, start building your Panini. First, spread butter on the sides of the bread that will be facing out. Then spread pesto on the sides of the bread that will be inside the sandwich.
- Add cheese, tomato, green pepper, red pepper, and chicken pieces (optional) before closing your sandwich up. Put your sandwich in the skillet and cook until cheese is melted and bread has browned, flipping once during cooking.
I love the combination of fresh green peppers and roasted red peppers in this sandwich. And anything with pesto always makes me happy!
Panini #3:
Mexican Heat Panini
(aka “My impromptu Panini because the flavor combination sounded good.”)
Ingredients:
- Whole-wheat bread (or you could use a whole-wheat sandwich thin, like I did!)
- Guacamole
- Sliced tomato
- Pepperjack cheese
Directions:
- Spread guacamole on bread, add tomato and cheese, and heat sandwich in a skillet over medium heat until cheese has melted.
This one may not look pretty, but it tasted amazing! The kick from the pepperjack cheese combined with the coolness of the guacamole was a complete success! 
Just one more note. You’ll notice that I didn’t give a lot of measurements when listing ingredients. That’s because you should build the sandwich to your taste! Use as much or as little of each ingredient as you want. But just don’t skimp on the cheese. You can’t have a good Panini sandwich without plenty of ooey, gooey cheese (in my humble opinion!)!
————
And to support my girl Cinnamon …
Cinnamon is doing a new blog link-up that allows bloggers to share pictures of their pets!
So to celebrate her new post idea, here’s a picture of my mom’s adorable puppy, Sophie!
Come on, you know that face makes you smile. 
Question for ya …
What are you up to this weekend?
We’re finally moving into our NEW HOUSE! Yahoo!
Which of these Panini sandwiches sounds like something you’d enjoy?
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Caprese Panini sounds awesome! My hubs always has to do a panini when I finally tell him “we are having sandwiches”. He would def like you for using the pepper jack! His obsession. Wish I could link up on doggy posts
( not living at home anymore and missing my pup. One day we will get our own. One day. Happy Friday!!
You should have your parents send you a pic of your pup and then link up! Sophie isn’t my dog … she’s my mom’s, and my mom lives in Florida. I just have her send me pics because I miss her!!
Have a great day, Nicole!
you can TOTALLY link up!! Just blog about the pup that you miss and put in some cute pics! We all want to see the cuteness!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..23PAWS #1- Test Run and Introductions
Oh YUM I want to eat all of those
. I love paninis….I just rarely make them for some reason haha. Good luck with moving this weekend! I hope everything goes well! Love u <3
Those paninis look delicious! I think I’m going to have to try the caprese one this weekend:)
We’re helping some friends move into their new house this evening and then I have a 5K tomorrow evening…it’s been quite a while since I’ve raced:P
Have fun moving in!
kaceyjt recently posted..Free Friday #2: Commissioning Ceremony
I love paninis, especially any that include mozzarella, basil and tomato! This weekend I am celebrating my husband’s birthday with a family dinner and the most delicious cake! The same kind as my wedding cake
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..And the Winners are…
all of those paninis sound awesome but i think im sold on the caprese one!
this weekend we have our friends little boys birthday party but otherwise nothing..just how i like it
good luck with the move!!!
Theresa recently posted..I have to admit a fear of mine…
Aww have fun at the birthday party!!
Mmmmm they all look delicious! I’m so pumped that y’all are moving into your new home this weekend!!! We are going downtown to bluesfest tonight. Tomorrow I have my long run and then teaching Zumba, and on Sunday I leave for cheer camp!
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..Foodie PenPal Reveal!
i LOVE panani sandwiches!! the melty cheese totally makes it. i know i’d love all of the panini combos you mentioned… i need to get to work on trying them out! yum!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Bacon, Cheese, & Avocado Turkey Burger
yum! they all sound awesome to me, really, but i think the caprese sounds the best. good luck moving into your new house this weekend!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..honey-chipotle turkey meatballs
You have officially been crowned the panini queen! All of your recipes sound delicious; I always forget about making panini’s for lunch and dinner. You are so creative…
This weekend Paul and I are going to a local Olive Mill that makes olive oils; I expect that it will be the coolest thing ever, especially since I’m Italian and I have olive oil running through my veins.
Michelle @ Nice Lil Saturday recently posted..High Five for Friday!!!
Oh man, have fun this weekend, Michelle! I would love to do something like that. I’m not Italian, but I still love my olive oil!!
Oh man! Good LUCK with the move! I will be praying for you. SO EXCITING though! Make sure you pack that toaster oven!
THANK YOU for linking up and being my first link in the test run. If I haven’t told you in a while…I APPRECIATE YOU so much! Thanks for your support! HUGS!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..23PAWS #1- Test Run and Introductions
Hugs to you, too!!
I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Thank you for your prayers! 
Oh yay!! I am so happy for you guys moving into your house this weekend! SO SO exciting!
aaaaaand now i want a panini
Andrea @ Andrea Out Loud! recently posted..A Lightened Up Alfredo Sauce
i just found a new cleaning line that i completely love and wanted to share with you. I sell gold canyon candles and i love them but never tried the cleaning stuff and i fell in love with them today. check them out at mygc.com/melissaredmond. and they are all plant based so its safe for the earth and the kids n animals
I’m so excited for you and your hubs! Also, now I’m dying for your pesto pepper panini!
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..Watermelon Rum Runner
Thank you, Amber! We’re super excited, too!!
I have all the ingredients for the mexican heat panini – win win
Kailey recently posted..A Breakfast To Remember
Yay! And if you can come up with a better name for it, by all means, let me know haha!
OO! Yum yum, that looks GREAT Kristen!
I wish I still had access to my roommate’s panini press– I would be all over that!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..One Wild Birthday
Those look so good! I love paninis!
Alyssa (pb and oatmeal) recently posted..Ithaca is Gorges (Part 2)