Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil & Pesto Panini

It was almost 100 degrees yesterday, and it supposed to stay this way for the rest of the week. Whenever it is hot, I don't feel like cooking.
Who wants to turn on the oven when it is that hot outside & heat up your house even more? Not me!
And, it has been staying hot in the evenings which means it is even too hot to go outside and BBQ.
Enter the Panini Maker!
In the summer we do a lot of grilling & hearty salads for dinner. And, as of this summer, I made a lot of Panini sandwiches! My mom got me a Panini maker for Christmas last year & it is awesome!

I have made a few variations of Panini's. There are SO many things you can combine. Fresh veggies, cheeses, meat, etc. You can use a variety of breads. The possibilities are endless! You can grill stuff right on the Panini maker!

It is the perfect dinner on a warm summer (or early fall) night! It is SO easy to make & takes less than 10 minutes to prepare & cook (Take that Rachael Ray!) Not to mention, a pretty cheap meal!

Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil & Pesto Panini
This one is mine (and Kevin's) favorite by far. I have made this version last night & I made it at least once a week (sometimes twice a week) for the past 2 months.

Here is what you need:
Sliced Sourdough Bread
Pesto (I use Trader Joe's brand)
Tomato (I get mine from my mom's garden)
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Fresh Basil (from the Farmers Market!)

First, spread pesto on both slices of bread:
Slice the mozzarella cheese:
Slice the tomatoes:
Place bread on panini maker & add chesse & tomato slices and a few leaves of fresh basil:
Put the 2nd slice of bread on top:
Plug in panini maker, close top & set a timer for 5 minutes:
Enjoy your fresh & delicous panini sandwhich!
I serve ours with a bowl of watermelon. Easiest dinner ever. So full of flavor! And, I love a meal where there are no pots & pans to clean! Score!
And, if you are lucky (like me!) your hubby will make you a root beer float for dessert!
He is usually on dish duty, so since there are not really any dishes for this, he made this! It is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer night!
Yum!