French Dip Panini and Caprese Salad
Dinner tonight was a pretty quick combination of recipes. First, I threw together Rachael Ray’s French Dip Panini (with a few minor modifications). Then I whipped up a two-minute caprese salad (which coincidentally is a perfect inclusion for Sweetnicks’ ARF/5-A-Day Tuesday).
Honestly, I dare say this is the first Rachael Ray recipe I have ever made. I came across it while looking at recipes on Everything Rachael Ray today and it just stuck in my head. So on the way home I made a quick stop at the store for the ingredients. Whipping it up was simple and easy. And the flavor was awesome. It was definitely a good first taste of her cooking. I might just have to try some of her other recipes too.
While at the store, some deliciously ripe plum tomatoes and bright green basil caught my eye. Next thing I knew I was slicing a plum tomato and mini fresh mozzarella balls and tearing up basil for a super-quick salad.
Here’s the caprese salad recipe. I will post the panini recipe on the flip-side.
1 plum tomato, sliced into six slices
2 mini fresh mozzarella balls, cut into three slices
2 large basil leaves, torn into pieces
olive oil
sea salt
Layer tomato slices and then mozzarella slices on a plate. Place the torn basil in the center of the slices. Drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt.
Serve immediately.
Mmmm, looks delicious.
There is a little sandwich shop around the corner from where I used to work in DC had Smoked Caprice sandwiches on the menu, using smoked mozerella. I’ve never been able to find smoked mozzerella anywhere, and what I wouldn’t do for one of those sandwiches. Caprice is such a great classic.
I have to tell you how much I love Rachael Ray – her caesar dressing recipe is FANTABULOUS, and really really easy. It’s in the first 30-Minute meals book.
God, I love Rachael Ray.
YUM – this looks fabulous.
Sarah – so completely agree with you on that Caesar Salad recipe. I have to make sure no one watches me make it though, since the raw egg grosses out many of my family members. Mmmm. Maybe I have to have Caesar sald for dinner….
OOoh Sarah, I may have to try that one!
Akaijen, smoked mozzarella is EVERYWHERE up here in the northeast so hopefully you can get some when you get back to DC. That was the first type of fresh mozz i tried.