Desperation sometimes leads to craziness, which is exactly why I once upon a time ordered a Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Panini at Starbucks. Look, for as much as I love Starbucks, I feel like they should probably stick to froo-froo lattes. A lot of their pastries are good, but they aren't great. The same goes for their sandwiches.
Or so I thought.
That stupid panini haunts me. I loved it so very much that I might just have to marry it.
Alas, most of the times I've tried to buy one, they've either been sold out or I haven't had enough money on my gift card (thou shalt not spend money at Starbucks unless thou is getting gold stars for thy purchase). So ... the haunting has continued.
Until I went and got all wild and crazy and made my own slightly twisted version for dinner.
Alexis has a deep love for "fancy grilled cheese" and this one was no exception. Once she was done pulling the cheese off of it, that is. She pulls the cheese off of everything, though, so I don't think that was much of a judgement of my cooking skills. It was more that she REALLY liked the "spices" and the cheese was harshing her buzz.
Whatever.
She's a weirdo. Every normal person who loves cheese will feel me on this sandwich. It's super good.
Sun-Dried Tomato, Pesto, and Mozzarella Sandwich (serves 4)
1 loaf of ciabatta bread (I like the Target Archer Farms ciabbata bread that says "take and bake" on it)
1/2 cup pesto
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
1 package sliced mozzarella cheese (about 12 slices)
A handful of fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut the loaf of bread in half, making a top and a bottom.
3. Slather both sides with pesto.
4. Throw some sundried tomatoes on top of the pesto on the bottom side.
5. All the cheese slices. Do that thing with them.
6. More sun dried tomatoes go on top of the cheese.
7. Spinach. It goes in there right about here.
8. Put the two halves together and set on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted.
9. Have a very happy night.