Smoked Turkey Club Panini

From: Mel's Kitchen Cafe, adapted from Cook's Country June/July 2010

Makes 4 sandwiches

• 8-12 slices bacon
• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, rinsed, patted dry and minced
• 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
• 8 slices thick-cut crusty bread (Any type of artisan or sourdough bread, boule, or even honey wheat/multigrain loaf would work well)
  
• 1/2 pound thinly sliced deli Swiss cheese
• 1/2 pound thinly sliced deli smoked turkey
• 3 cups baby spinach or arugula

Cook bacon until crisp. You can use a skillet or use the microwave, placing the bacon in a single layer on a paper-towel lined plate, cover with paper towels and microwave for about 5 minutes (repeating the process if all the bacon doesn’t fit the first round). In a small bowl, combine the sun-dried tomatoes and mayonnaise.

Lightly spread butter over one side of each bread. Lay the butter-sides down on a cutting board or work area. Spread each slice with the sun-dried tomato mayonnaise. Layer half of the cheese on 4 slices of bread then top with turkey, bacon, spinach (or arugula) and remaining cheese. Top with remaining bread, butter side up.

Cook the sandwiches on a panini press, skillet or grill pan heated on medium heat for one minute prior to cooking. I use an indoor grill pan for my paninis but a skillet would work just as well. I place 2-3 sandwiches (depending on the size of the sandwich) in the grill pan and weigh the sandwiches down with a heavy pot (you can also use a foil-covered brick or similar object). Cook the sandwiches for about 4-5 minutes per side, until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Notes to Self: THESE WERE AMAZING!!! These flavors were so yummy all together. Some things that I did differently: I used an Artisan Asiago Cheese (Round) Loaf and sliced it. Next - the bacon. I have become a firm believer in baking my bacon. Lately, we have had a lot of bacon (don't judge me, bacon rocks!)...BLT's, bacon and eggs, pasta with bacon, maple donuts & bacon, bacon wrapped dark chocolate covered almonds (ok, just Lauren) etc. so we have used the microwave, the oven and the stove. Chris and I have decided that baking it gives it the best shape and flavor and it's easier to cook to perfection. Of course buying a high quality bacon in the first place is also a good idea but even still we compared high quality bacon cooked in the oven vs. frying it and the oven made a HUGE difference in taste. It takes a little longer but I think it is worth it. I then prefer the microwave over frying. Enough on the bacon. I also cooked the sandwiches in a cast iron skillet with a panini press. I could make two at a time. Man these were good.