Friday, February 25, 2011

Thank You Panera Bread....

Crumbs.  That's all there was left to photograph.
Well, it was a stroke of brilliance that only hits
once in a blue moon in my kitchen.

Chelsea gets these kind of results but
I am so rusty that it amazes me when anything turns
out as well as tonight's dinner did.

Truth be told I had hardly anything to do with its
success....but I'll take any credit given.

It began while standing at the bakery counter
trying to choose my free reward.
I finally got that silly little card 
registered so they can collect
data on my spending patterns.
(I settled on a Pecan Roll 
which I brought home to surprise my Mom)
My eyes could not tear themselves away from
those huge loaves of bread!
You know, they sit there on the shelves
looking so inviting.
So gorgeous and crusty.

I found myself blurting out that I would take
a Three Cheese Miche.
Miche?  
I don't even know what that is...
but it looked amazing!!!

How did I want it sliced?
Thick or thin?
Well, thin would last too long
so thick was my choice.
Eat it fresh.
That's what I was thinking.

A girl named Kristen put it in the 
handy dandy slicer and very quickly the 
bread was ready.

So, there I stood, holding my massive 
Miche in hand.
Not a clue of how we might put it to good 
use....and then...
it hit me!

There would be no better use for this bread
than to make Panini's.
Sliced thick...no accident I was now thinking.

So...this was how it came together.

For each Panini:

2 massive slices of three cheese miche.
Lightly buttered on the outside.
A slim layer of cream cheese on one slice.
Four slices of quality Turkey lunch meat.
A layer of Farmer's Cheese
Thinly sliced Red Onion
A layer of cheddar cheese
A layer of sliced b&b pickles.
Thousand Island Dressing...if you, like Warren, insist.

I would have put green or red peppers on 
them if I had had any on hand....

Cook in your Panini Maker until cheese begins
to melt nicely and the bread is lightly browned 
and crispy on the outside.

Cut in half and then....

 I challenge you to eat the whole thing.
Believe me, your mouth will be willing
but the tummy will be full.

Splitting one for each two people would 
be plenty...
especially if you enjoy a nice green salad
on the side.

As we sat down to eat Mikey showed up
for the weekend.  
He thought he needed one.
Then his friend Josh showed up for the 
evening.
He thought he could enjoy one too.

Total made = 4
Total eaten = 4

Thanks Panera!
You sure made our dinner
just right!

9 comments:

Karen said...

Oooh, that sounds delish! Alas, I don't have a panini maker...do you think a George Forman would work? Of course, I don't have a Panera anywhere nearby either...but, hey, I make bread regularly-surely I can come up with something...thanks for the inspiration!

PS-I'm glad you are feeling better, too!

sherry said...

thud. ;o)

Becky K. said...

Karen,
When I don't feel like getting the Panini maker out I just put them in a skillet and set a cast iron skillet on top of them. Same effect but without the ridges. It heats through and helps hold everything together. Tonight, however, Warren got the panini maker from the garage storage so that we could have ridges!
lol

Gayla said...

That sounds delicious! I am so craving a panini about now...

Vee said...

Oh my! That sounds so wonderful. Wonder what my chances are of finding a Three Cheese Miche around...

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

When you told me about making pannini's out of it you didn't tell me what you put in them! Wow, that sounds divine!

Karen said...

Sounds like the GF just might do the trick, then. (It's a recent Sal. Army store purchase and I'm not sure what all it can do yet-but this sounds like a great thing to try on it!)

Theresa said...

Sounds sooooo yummy, how can you make me so hungry? Excuse me but I have to go get something to eat! Enjoy your evening, HUGS!

Maurie said...

Great idea! I love new ideas to answer...."what shall I make for dinner!"