Panini With Chocolate And Brie Food

BRIE AND APPLE PANINI

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan along with the shallots and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the apples and stir to coat in the oil. Add the lemon zest, juice and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir well to coat the apples in all the flavors. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples begin to brown and are cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in the basil and set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, lay the ciabatta halves out so they are open-faced. Scoop out some of the inside of the bread and discard. Divide the Brie evenly among the halves, about 3 slices per half, tearing them as needed to cover the bread. Divide the apple mixture on the bottom halves of each sandwich (approximately 1/4 cup per sandwich). Place the tops on the sandwiches and press slightly to close.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet along with 2 sandwiches. Place a lid smaller than the skillet on top of the sandwiches and press down gently. Cook until golden brown on the first side, about 3 minutes. Flip the sandwiches and repeat on the second side until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat with the remaining oil and sandwiches. (Alternatively, you can use a panini press.) Serve warm.

PANINI WITH CHOCOLATE AND BRIE

Steps:

• Preheat the panini press.
• Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil. Place in the press, close, and grill the bread slices until they begin to turn golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the panini press and place 2 slices of cheese on one slice of bread, top with 1/3 cup chocolate chips, and sprinkle with basil. Top with another slice of bread. Continue with the remaining sandwiches. Return the sandwiches to the panini press until the chocolate begins to melt, about another 2 minutes.
• Cut the sandwiches into 2-inch-wide rectangles or small triangles and transfer to a serving platter.

BRIE, CRANBERRY AND BACON PANINI

Steps:

• If using panini rolls, cut each roll in half. If using regular bread, spread the outside of each slice with butter.
• Spread 2 1/2 tablespoons of cranberry sauce each on 2 slices of bread.
• Layer the brie over the cranberry sauce.
• Top with 2 slices of bacon and the top layer of bread, remembering to keep the buttered side facing outwards.
• I use a George Foreman grill to cook the panini- press the lid down to heat the sandwich right through and cook for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.
• Alternatively, cook in a skillet, pressing the sandwich firmly with a spatula while cooking.
• Serve hot!