Brie, Roasted Turkey, and Pear Panini Recipe
Holy moly this week got crazy.
Crazy good. Crazy bad. A little sad. And a lot, a lot of LOVE.
My amazing, brilliant, grandpa passed away this week. He battled Alzheimer’s for over 8 years and I have never seen a more graceful fight in my life. Alzheimer’s tries to take everything away from you, and even until the end it couldn’t take his heart, I’m so happy he gets to rest now… and hopefully find the most kick butt Old Country Buffet up there in heaven (go figure the gourmet granddaughter has the grandpa obsessed with an all-you-can-eat buffet).
But with the bad always comes the good, and this week has been SO blessed, full of exciting interviews and hilarious high school lectures. Kids never ever fail to brighten my day. EVER. It’s like constant word vomit. And it’s awesome. That’s another reason I LOVE cooking, its one of those things where everyone drops their guard and gets real. Kids are good at that, sometimes it takes a little chicken chili to get us adults there!
So enough of the sap! At this point grandpa would have gone behind my back and started sneaking food out of the fridge….
Let’s talk sandwiches. FABULOUS sandwiches. This lovely sammie isn’t just pretty – it is so so delicious, and ridiculously easy. I’m not even giving you a usual recipe today – just ingredients, no measurements necessary. I know Halloween food is usually chili, stews, and delivery pizza – but I swear some of the best comfort food comes in sandwich form. These are great for grown-up tummys on sugar overload from sneaking Reese’s from their kids’ bags…and fabulous for us in the kids-free zone wanting some cute bites for our Halloween parties.
Roasted Turkey + Brie + Sliced Pears + Arugula + Dijon + Cranberry Nut Bread = flavor perfection.
Picture creamy brie melted over sweet pears and savory roast turkey, topped with peppery arugula, a little spicy dijon, and a rustic nut cranberry bread. Yum. yum. YUM.
Brie, Roasted Turkey, and Pear Panini
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 8 slices cranberry nut bread (or any hearty bread)
- 1 pear, sliced to about 1/4 inch thick
- 8 oz sliced roasted turkey (I bought a cooked turkey breast from the grocery store and sliced myself)
- creamy brie cheese, thinly sliced
- handful arugula
- dijon mustard
Preparation:
Heat panini maker to medium high heat setting. Spray with olive oil OR brush bread on one side (the side that will sit on panini press) with olive oil.
Layer turkey on one slice of bread. Top with sliced pear, follow with slices of brie. Finish with arugula. Spread a thin layer of dijon on top half of bread and gently press together to form sandwich. Place in panini press and press until golden brown. Serve immediately.