Does your lunchtime consist of the same boring sandwiches day after day, week after week? They say that variety is the spice of life, but my lunches weren't spicy at all. In fact, those plain old ham sandwiches became pretty bland after a while. I spent a lot of time wondering how I could possible jazz up my sandwiches and make lunch time exciting again. Who would have thought that all I needed was a small kitchen appliance known as a panini maker.

Panino is the Italian word for sandwich, panini is the plural form of that word. Even though it is not technically correct to call a single sandwich a panini, it doesn't change the fact that they are delicious. Adding heat and pressure to a variety of ingredients including meats, cheeses, spreads and vegetables somehow creates a sandwich that's much more than the sum of its parts.

To make a Panini sandwich, you will need a panini grill. Sometimes called a panini press or panini maker, these compact appliances look like a combination between a waffle maker and a grill. Most panini grills will consist of two heating plates that are connected with a hinge. You place your sandwich in between the plates so that it heats up evenly from the top and the bottom at the same time.

Not only does the heating blend the flavors of the all the ingredients together but it also creates a nice crusty outside. Using hearty breads such as sour dough, ciabatta or whole grain are the traditional way to make panini.

Experimentation is the best part of making panini. With all the combinations of breads, meats, cheeses and spreads you could make a different panini everyday for the rest of your life. Some of my favorites include roast beef with arugala and provolone, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese and even peanut butter, banana and chocolate panini. If you can think of it, you should try it. And a panini press is also a great way to grill vegetables so be sure to try grilled vegetables in your panini as well.

Brown bagging your lunch everyday definitely becomes monotonous over time. And in today's economy who can afford to eat out everyday. Adding a panini grill to your kitchen is a great way to add a little bit of excitement to your meals and lunchtime will never be the same, thanks to panini sandwiches.

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