Heart Shaped Portobello Panini Food

GRILLED PORTOBELLO PANINI

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat.
• Add the mushrooms and red peppers to a sheet tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Grill the portobellos for 3 minutes per side, 6 minutes total. Grill the red peppers for 5 minutes per side, 10 minutes total. Remove from the grill and set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Cut two 4-inch pieces of bread, then slice in half lengthwise. Spread the Herbed Cream Cheese Spread on each piece of bread. Pile on the grilled portobellos, red peppers and arugula on 2 slices of the bread and close the sandwiches.
• Place the sandwiches on top of the hot grill pan and place a cast-iron skillet on top to press. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, and then flip and cook 3 to 4 more minutes on the remaining side. Slice on a diagonal and serve.
• Add the cream cheese, basil, chives and garlic to a bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth and combined. Season with salt and pepper.

HEART-SHAPED PIZZA FOR TWO

Steps:

• Put the pizza dough in a medium bowl and coat well with the olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, put a large inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Fold a pepperoni slice in half and use a pair of kitchen shears to trim the edges into the shape of half of a heart. (When you unfold the pepperoni slice, it will be a whole heart.) Repeat this process with the remaining pepperoni, then set aside.
• Divide the pizza dough into 2 balls. On a lightly floured surface, stretch 1 ball of dough into a 10-inch round. Transfer the dough to a piece of parchment paper, then slide the parchment and dough onto a second inverted baking sheet. Use a pair of kitchen shears or a paring knife to cut the pizza dough into the shape of a large heart, discarding the dough scraps.
• Spread half of the sauce on the dough in a thin layer and scatter half of the mozzarella on top. Top with half of the pepperoni slices. Use a pastry brush to brush the exposed edges of the dough with olive oil. Carefully slide the parchment onto the preheated baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling, 6 to 8 minutes. Let cool 1 to 2 minutes before slicing. Repeat to make a second pizza.

PORTOBELLO PANINI

Steps:

• Slice the stems off the mushrooms so they can lay completely flat. Slice each cap in half to form 8 round slices.
• Spray a large nonstick grill pan with cooking spray and preheat over medium high heat.
• Top the bottom half of the mushrooms with tomatoes and cheese. Cap with remaining mushroom rounds. Brush the top sides of each sandwich with oil. Place mushroom sandwiches in the pan oil side down and cook for 2 minutes. Brush the top with oil, flip and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

PORTABELLA PANINI WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Reconstitute the sun-dried tomatoes by soaking them in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove the tomatoes from the water and chop them.
• Slice the stems off of the mushrooms so they can lay completely flat. Slice each cap in half so you have 8 round mushroom slices.
• Top half of the mushrooms with 1 tablespoon of tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of cheese. Top with remaining mushroom slices. Brush the top side of each "sandwich" with olive oil.
• Preheat a large, nonstick skillet or grill pan. Place the mushroom sandwiches in the pan carefully, oil side down, and cook for 2 minutes. Brush the top half with oil, flip, and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.