Panini Express

Paninis - filled baguettes that are put through a press to warm up the filling and give the bread a delicious grilled flavour - have traversed the continent from Italy to grace discerning restaurants, high-end cafes and sandwich bars everywhere. Because of their popularity, the panini press (think a small George Foreman Grill) has become one of the hottest-selling small appliances on the market. "Panini Express" supplies you with 70 easy yet delicious recipes for your home-made paninis and does not confine itself to only Italian recipes; it explores the world of flavour with offerings such as ham, turkey, Swiss cheese and a hoisin-lime dressing. Also included are four homemade bread recipes and recipes for mayonnaise and other tasty sandwich spreads. It is different and delicious!

"I have long admired Dan's commitment to Artisanal bread making. In Panini Express, he shows that his passion for the perfect sandwich goes far beyond the bread." --Chef Terrance Brennan, author of Artisanal Cooking "Panini Express celebrates the delicious combinations of warm bread, melted cheese, and a global array of fillings--the results are mouthwatering."--Rick Smilow, President and Owner, The Institute of Culinary Education "You know a food has really arrived when they start writing books about it. Case in point: Panini Express by bread maven and former Western New Yorker Daniel Leader, author of Bread Alone, and Lauren Chattman. This time, Leader takes a more popular approach. His book features glorious food photography and very simple recipes for fillings and spreads. But just in case you're feeling energized, he tells you how to make the bread for the panini, too."--The Buffalo News "All too often, when I think sandwich, I think tuna salad or mustard, mayo and meat. In summer, I expand to include the classic BLT, but the reality is that I lack sandwich-imagination. When I opened Panini Express I realized my problem: A sandwich isn't just something with bread, it's an entire meal wrapped in bread. Inside this thin handbook are recipes for placing on bread a host of dinner-worthy menu items; asparagus, prosciutto and Taleggio; filet mignon, mushrooms and red pepper-garlic mayo; tuna, fava beans and Asiago; grilled chicken with Asian slaw. What's nice is that even though the book provides recipes to bake my own bread, authors Daniel Leader and Lauren Chattman openly admit that there are plenty of shortcuts to a great panini. There are several recipes for hopping up the flavor in store-bought mayonnaise, a baba ghanoush recipe that can be made in 5 minutes, even a 20-minute ratatouille recipe. "--Contra Costa Times (CA) "Known for his artisanal bread bakery, Daniel Leader tells what fillings are worthy of his loaves. There are French classics (the Croque Monsieur), meatier sandwiches, poultry offerings (try the Smoked Chicken, St. Andre and Pear-Apple Compote) and still plenty to satisfy vegetarians. We gravitated to the Grilled Italian Hero Sandwich. A tastier cousin of the cold-cut version, this panini had an extra kick from sliced pepperoncini and arugula. If you're still hungry, Leader includes dessert sandwiches and other sections on making your own bread and condiments." --Allentown Morning Call (PA)

Lauren Chattman is a cookbook author and former professional pastry chef who has written 10 books, including most recently Dessert Express. She collaborated withformer White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier on Dessert University and with Daniel Leader on Local Breads, which won an IACP award. She has appeared on The Today Show and has sold over 50,000 books on QVC. She can be seen demonstrating baking techniques for Pillsbury on www.howdini.com.