Panini Party

Halifax had a spectacularly sunny weekend - everyone was smiling at each other on the streets, joggers and walkers were out in full force and dogs were in a frenzy sniffing all of the fresh spring mud!

In the mood to celebrate; we asked friends over for dinner- not thinking that we really didn't have a lot of time to actually MAKE dinner due to son, William's soccer finals ( they won 'GOLD' !)

Soooo, what to make???

It turned out to be a Panini Party - I don't usually recommend an appliance that really only makes  one kind of food - but this has to be the exception. I love my panini grill.  There are multipurpose grills out there - but ours just does paninis .

We went to two of our favourite markets - the Halifax Brewery Market and Pete's Frootique to pick up  smoked ham, roast turkey, spicy pepperoni, havarti cheese, avocados, hothouse tomatoes, breads and other fine ingredients.

To celebrate the spring- like weather we served lime cordials and put plastic bugs and daisies on the table.

The panini grill pan only makes two or three at a time so it creates an informal, fluid atmosphere of people eating at different stages.

My favourite combination was sliced avocado, roasted red pepper, pesto, turkey and a little havarti cheese. The heating of the sandwiches makes the flavours more pronounced and the bread crispy and chewy.

We served the Purple Cabbage Salad that was mentioned in a previous blog.
And a green salad of pea shoots and baby spinach leaves.

If you don't have a panini grill ..... maybe you should get one for your husband for his birthday! :)