Pear and Havarti Panini

The only thing you need to know about this dish was said very eloquently by a friend who tried it for the first time last week: "Yummy, yummy, yummy, there's panini in my tummy!" Paninis are the ultimate sandwich delicacy in my book because they're uber-simple to make and crazy delicious. They're fantastic in winter paired with soup or in the summer with a cold salad. And this is the world's most perfect panini.

A true American-style panini is a grilled, pressed sandwich, but not everyone has a panini press at home. There are ways to get around this. If you have a George Foreman grill, that's all you need. If your cooking tools include a grill pan or even a plain skillet, you can create a make-shift sandwich press by wrapping a brick or a large canned good in aluminum foil and use that to press your sandwich while frying. You may not have the same pretty grill marks, but the flavors and textures will still be spot on.

This is a sweet panini that is great for any meal. Pears and havarti cheese were meant to be together, and when mixed with fresh spices and honey whole wheat bread create something amazing. You can use any kind of pears in this recipe, but I like to use bosc pears for their sweet flavor and firm texture that holds up well to heat. Make sure your pears are ripe - if it feels like you're squeezing a rock, then the pear is not ready for your panini. Try this recipe with a few slices of my Honey Wheat bread, you'll love it!  Enjoy!

Pear and Havarti Panini, Serves 4
2 pears, cored and sliced thin
4 ounces sliced havarti cheese
8 slices crusty whole wheat bread
Honey
Nutmeg
Butter

Heat your panini grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly butter the outside slices of bread and place them butter-side down on your prep surface. On one slice of bread arrange sliced havarti and sprinkle with nutmeg. On the other slice drizzle with a little honey and cover generously with pear slices. Put the halves of the sandwich together and grill on a hot panini press or pan for 4-5 minutes (2-3 minutes per side) or until bread is nicely grilled and cheese has melted.