If you are looking for ways for healthy cooking for two a toasted sandwich maker or Panini maker is a good choice for quick easy meals. Not wanting another electrical appliance in the kitchen the All-Clad Panini Maker was the best choice for us. Most reviews claimed this stove top Panini maker was not only good at toasted sandwiches but also very good at grilling meats and vegetables. The stove top style is also easier to clean than electrical grills.

The All-Clad Panini maker is one of the smaller grills so it works well for just two people. It's dimensions are 17x11 inches and weighs 9.1 pounds. The actual cooking surface is 8.5X10.5 inches with 1 inch sides which easily fits two 4x5 inch sandwiches or three 1/3 pound hamburger patties. A good Panini maker needs to have some weight to it for even heating and browning. This toasted sandwich maker has a good weight for it's size and the press is as heavy as the pan. All-Clad has a good reputation and this toasted sandwich maker lives up to it's reputation. The grill and press heats quickly and evenly and nicely grills the food. It is important to preheat the pan and press on medium, or slightly below and to also spray grill and press with non-stick cooking spray after preheating. Be very careful where you pick up the press as parts of the handle will get hot.

Toasted sandwiches are so easy and can be made from a recipe or your imagination. For a good ham sandwich spray 2 slices of good hardy sourdough bread with non-cooking spray, layer on Swiss cheese, left over ham, canned roasted red peppers (be sure to pat them dry with a paper towel), onions, tomatoes and toast for 5-6 minutes. You can also make a healthy toasted sandwich with left over Thanksgiving turkey. Spread 2 tablespoons of reduced-fat mayonnaise on a slice of crusty Chicago-style Italian bread, layer thinly sliced turkey, artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers patted dry with paper towel, basil leaves and reduced-fat provolone cheese and toast.

We live in Oklahoma where the weather is unpredictable and the wind can blow for days and days. A Panini maker makes a good stove top grill which is a great alternative to charcoal or gas grilling. You can use it grill hamburger patties or meat like beef, chicken, or shrimp and not worry about wind, rain or snow! By preheating the pan and press on medium heat, each on separate burners, it will cook from the top and bottom, searing the meat to retain juices and cutting the cooking time it half.

For simple hamburgers, make patties, seasoned with seasoned salt, pepper and garlic and grill. Or experiment by adding 2-3 teaspoons of liquid smoke or 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce to a pound of hamburger before making patties then season with coarse black pepper and garlic powder and grill. The stove top grill will nicely brown the top and bottom of the burgers with out turning and cook the patties in 10-15 minutes.

Remember, a recipe is merely a guide. With something as easy to cook with as a Panini Grill you can let your imagination run wild!

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