Paninis & Wine…

Last weekend I was in Napa with my girlfriends (winery post to come) so I hadn’t hung out with my husband in awhile.  Since he eats nothing but frozen pizza while I’m gone, I decided to make him a nice dinner to pair with some of the wine I bought.  I ended up making paninis with asiago, prosciutto and basil pesto plus strawberry, toasted walnut and feta salad. The whole thing was incredibly quick and easy and paired very nicely with my Elizabeth Pinot Noir from Baldacci Vineyards.

Prosciutto & Pesto Paninis (recipe is per panini):
2 slices of rustic whole wheat bread from Trader Joes (it is the best option for Paninis!)
3 thin slices of asiago cheese
2-3 torn leaves of basil
1-2 tablespoons pesto spread over the bread. Again, Trader Joes makes a really good jar version if you don’t want to make your own.
2-3 slices of prosciutto

Strawberry, toasted walnut and feta salad with balsamic vinaigrette
Chopped romaine, mixed greens or spinach (enough for two bowls)
Handful of sliced strawberries split between both bowls
1/3 cup of chopped walnuts toasted in a skillet split between both bowls
4 tablespoons of feta split between both bowls

Homemade balsamic vinaigrette:
Simply combine all ingredients below and whisk together

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 pinch salt
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

See what others are talking about "Paninis & Wine..."

---