The other day I bought an avocado, not really knowing what I was going to do with it. Sure. I could have made guac, but I wasn't in a guac kind of mood. And then it hit me: an at-home version of the Empire Diner's ABS (avocado, bacon, and Swiss) sandwich. I decided to swap out the bacon with some leftover chicken and to use that countertop grill I got for Christmas a couple years ago. Tadah...ACS (avocado, chicken, and Swiss) panini!
1) Spread mustard on the bread. I really, really love Honeycup's "uniquely sharp" mustard--you can eat the stuff straight from the jar with a spoon it's so good. 2) Layer Swiss cheese on one of the pieces of bread. 3) Top the Swiss cheese with some avocado slices and top them with a few grinds of black pepper.
4) Add a layer of meat on top of the avocado. I used leftover rotisserie chicken, but bacon would be amazing on this. If you're going veggie, replace the meat with some tomato slices. 5) Add the top piece of bread to the sandwich and grill until the cheese melts and the bread is nicely browned and crispy. 6) Let the grilled sandwich cool slightly, slice it, and eat. Mmmm. Light and tasty but substantial enough not to be hungry in an hour.
YumM! I shall have to make this soon.
Posted by: stripeydots | February 05, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Hey! I see this blog isn't just for cookies anymore! Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it. I'm a little nervous about this week's weigh in.
Posted by: Alicia | February 05, 2009 at 05:24 PM
This looks delicious! Great idea to post "in-home" versions of restaurant food for our cost-conscious economic times!Could this be another cook-book idea?
Posted by: Lorraine | February 06, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Yum I love panini. The closest I've come to making one at home is putting something heavy on top of a sandwich in a frying pan. More of a smashini :-)
I don't have a panini maker and am not going to get one, but would this work in a George Foreman grill? Is that what you used, or was it something more specialized?
Posted by: Carol | February 06, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Amelia: Try it and let me know what you think. I have a new-found love for avocados now.
Alicia: I got to keep it fresh! :-) Good luck.
Lorraine: If not a cookbook then a TV show. It would be perfect for Food Network.
Carol: A Forman Grill will work perfectly! Give it a try. :-)
Posted by: Oatmeal Cookie Guy | February 11, 2009 at 08:00 PM