It was a beautiful day here in central Iowa! The sun was shining which made me want to fling open the back door of my kitchen when I got home and twirl around in the sunshine, Sound of Music style! 
![61825-004-fa1bfc92[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/61825004fa1bfc921.jpg "61825-004-fa1bfc92[1]")
I am not crazy though and, in fact, we only reached 36° today. BUT, we’re expecting 50° on Sunday, and since we haven’t seen temps above 45° in over 91 days, well, you can only imagine how excited that makes me! 
There was no extra time to spend in the rays though, because I have a big to-do list to tackle tonight! Whenever I have a ton of stuff on my plate, and am feeling a bit overwhelmed, I make a list. They make my life SO much easier and help me to visualize and prioritize what needs to get done. Tonight’s list:
From the top:
1. Bake: DONE!
Per Day 2 of my cookie making process, after work I rolled and baked 5 dozen cookies in an hour and a half – a personal best time for me!
2. Blog: DONE!
Dinner was seriously outstanding tonight – I wish I had more than one Ham & Apricot Panini!
I started with these chewy, fluffy Ciabatta Buns. $0.99 for two buns? Yeah!
These came right from the bakery section of my grocery store, and are pre-sliced. They couldn’t make it easier to incorporate into a quick and tasty dinner.
The rest of the panini ingredients: low-sodium Sara Lee deli ham, mild cheddar cheese and apricot preserves.
I started by smearing a thin layer of the apricot preserves onto both sides of the ciabatta bun.
Add a slice of cheddar cheese,
and some ham.
Place the two halves together and mist a skillet with some olive oil. You could use a little bit of butter too. You just need something to help the bread crisp up on both sides.
Ok…here’s the thing. A panini press comes in really handy when you’re trying to make panini’s, however, when you don’t own one – you’ve got to improvise! Here’s my solution – a skillet stacked with a heavy container of protein powder, a giant can of baked beans, and a massive jar of PB!
Psssht! Who needs a $50 panini press?! 
When the bottom got nice and crispy, I misted the top with olive oil, flipped the sandwich over and placed a folded piece of foil on top, so the weighted skillet wouldn’t get dirty.
The stack goes back! I only suffered 2 topples. No biggie.
At this point, the cheese started oozing out and I was getting hungry! Baking sure takes it out of a girl!
Finally, the sandwich got crisped up on both sides, so I took it off the skillet, sliced (on the diagonal) and served!
WOW! Best sandwich I ever made!
The crunchy exterior gave way to a cheesy, gooey interior.
And that JAM! Sweet to ham’s savory. UN-believable!
Proof positive you don’t need a fancy piece of kitchen equipment to make fabulous, fun meals.
I served my crispy panini with some crunchy carrots.
This whole bag was $1.88! Niiiiice.
I needed some veggies in my life, and these did the trick.
Although I’m wishing I had about 5 more of these sandwiches…so fabulous!
Well, per my list, I’ve got two more items to cross off tonight:
3. Make the icing which I’ll be decorating my cookies with tomorrow.
4. Get a head start on tomorrows dinner. Cookie decorating will be dominating my night, so it’ll be nice to whip something pre-made out of the fridge!
I should be done in plenty of time to catch LOST, though, which is delayed an hour for a local basketball game. Found time! Love it.
ps you guys are JAZZED for the chia seed giveaway - I’m so glad! I did want to tell you that although chia seeds may appear to be expensive at first glance, they honestly last forever. I’ve been using ~1/2 Tablespoon from my 2lb stash everyday since I got it last month, and I seriously think I’ll be using it for the next year. If you spread the cost out over the period of many, many months, it’s really not bad at all. PLUS ChiaSeedsDirect.com offers FREE shipping! So, there ya go!
You have a great night!
~~~~~
What’s your favorite kitchen gadget?
Do you ever rig up contraptions in place of fancy appliances?
Do you prefer hot, or cold sandwiches?
Cute blog! Loved it! Can’t wait to try your fancy-schmanzy panini press! The sandwich looks YUMMY!
Wow, you were quite the busy bee in the kitchen. I love adding sweet jam to savory sammies. I think my favorite combo is pumpkin butter on an egg sammie. Amazing! You must try it.
Have a good night!
Biology books make the best tofu press…..and I have also done that with a skillet…although now that I have a GF its sooo much easier.
I found your blog through Refrigerator’s Soup’s 20 questions feature (loved your interview!) and have been enjoying it. So much fun to find new blogs!
Your solutinon to the panini press made me “lol”. How clever!!!
I definitely prefer hot sandwiches even thogh I eat cold a lot more out of convenience!
Love the “panini press”! I prefer hot sandwiches, but eat the cold as well. My favorite ciabatta rolls are at Gateway Market (South Union bread).
Wanted to pass along a new “find” of mine for food you’d find at the farmer’s market year round. I thought you might find it interesting. I made my first purchase last month. http://www.iowafood.org/
Oh yum… that sandwich sounds awesome! I love sweet/savory/salty together. And your “panini press” rocks. I use my George Foreman Grill for sandwiches like that.. works wonders!
And sometimes I’m in the mood for hot, sometimes cold. I’m moody
That sandwich looks delicious! I’m a cold sandwich girl myself
Haha you crack me up girl, that “panini press” is too cute!
The sammie looks deelish too, I also adore the sweet/savory unexpected combos and this would not disappoint!
Lately I’ve been loving my mandolin, makes slicing and dicing so freaking EASY!
I love “paninis”. We use our George Foreman as our panini maker. Works Great!!!
1. My favorite kitchen gadget, if it counts, would most definitely be my coffee maker. My second favorite would be my bright yellow Wilton rubber oven mitt, even though it’s not a gadget…. but I love it nonetheless.
2. Yes! When melting chocolate for buckeyes or one time when I made an awesome flan, I made a double-boiler by strategically floating a smaller pot inside a bigger one filled with water. If it tips wrong, say bye-bye to smooth buckeye chocolate!
3. Depends! Had a yummy cold sandwich at a work conference today, but also loved my hot portabella/red pepper/avacado/feta panini that I made for dinner tonight.
hahaha! it’s a ghetto Panini maker. that’s genuis! (for real)
I like hot sandwiches, so yours looks wonderful!
. I didn’t know that it’s supposed to get up to 50 this weekend – if so I am totally going for a run!!!
And I totally agree that today was a beautiful day in Iowa
My local HyVee carries chia seeds, so you might want to check there and you can have them immediately rather than waiting for delivery!
Those sandwiches look tasty! Love your improvising!
. I have to say I love a great cold cut deli sandwich! Mmmm…
That sandwich does look good. Another new idea to try. However, you DID watch “The Bachelor” finale, right? I scrolled through the page to try and find your reaction.
My stepmom no longer likes Jake. Ha!
I love a hot sandywich and your impromptu panini presser is quite creative. Sounds like a delish combo!
haha, your panini press is cracking me up. So inventive! I use my George Foreman grill for everything, especially warming/crisping up my sandwiches…yum!
Sandwich looks sooo good!!
My family and I will be in Des Moines this weekend for the State Basketball tournament and I need a recommendation for dinner!! What’s your favorite??
yummy!
Genius idea! I don’t have a panini press so I always thought those things were out of reach….but not any more!
What’s your favorite kitchen gadget?
Hmm..my hand held blender! Soup = much easier, much less washing up
Do you ever rig up contraptions in place of fancy appliances?
No…I have a limited kitchen!
Do you prefer hot, or cold sandwiches?
Both! One of each please
That does look like a delicious sandwich. And thanks for the tip on chia seeds. Maybe I will have to kick my cheapo tendencies and just buy them! If I don’t win of course
If I had a food processor it would be my favorite but since I don’t I’m going with my big fancy chef knife. Something satisfying about clean quick chops, finally!
I had to rig cookie sheets when I first got my apartment, because the ones I had were too big for my tiny oven. I just used a couple sheets of foil, rolled up the edges, perfect! I used a lot of foil, though, and finally found some small sheets.
Toasted sandwiches are the best. I LOVE crossing things OFF of the to-do list, not so much seeing them there in the first place!
I’ve never thought to add ap jam to my sandwiches. great idea. And my panini machine was like $10 at walmart and works just dandy. But your way is definitely more innovative. :p
What a great idea for a sandwich! Never would I have thought about putting apricot preserves with ham & cheese. My dad eats grilled cheese with strawberry jelly on top…but I always just thought that was kinda weird.
My favourite kitchen appliance has to be my food processor – it’s just so handy!
I’m definitely a person who does NOT rig up appliances I don’t have. Actually, I’m the kind of person who thinks money grows on trees and buys the appliance. LOL! My husband just loves that …
It really depends on my mood and the weather as for my sandwich preference. If it’s warm, I love a cold sandwich, but on a winter day something warm and comforting is best.
K
Who knew p.b., protein powder, and baked beans produce a grill press
My favorite kitchen item is anything Le Creuset. I have a grill pan but would LOVE to have a dutch oven. Gotta keep saving those pennies for that baby 
OMG that looks so awesome!!! I don’t eat meat, but I am totally going to try that with Tofurkey!! Mmm…
1) My Panini Press that my Mother-In-Law gave me last xmas! =)
2) Yes, but wasn’t quite as creative as you were.
3) Both, though “hot” usually wins out most times!
P.S. I think I have some homemade preserves a friend gave me at xmas that I must try in sandwich form after seeing your creation. YUMMY!!! The best I have ever tried on a sandwich was at a local eatery called the “Yellow Dog” and it was rasberry melba on pulled pork with brie……….it was TO DIE FOR!!! =O
your panini press is great. freaking love it!
[...] started with some fresh ciabatta rolls that I picked up from the deli section at the grocery store today. Two for $.99 – can’t [...]
[...] sandwich, ham, jellybeans, popchips by kaitm Dinner tonight was AWESOME!! Ever since first seeing this post on IGE, I’ve wanted to make a version of this sandwich and tonight was finally the [...]
Lemme guess – this was during the pre-Griddler days?! I have improv-ed over the years with a plate overturned on my sandwich, ahem panini, with a teapot (partially filled!) stacked upon the plate. Too funny. I NEED to gets me one of those griddlers!