bridesmaids

So my best friends from high school came to visit me today for a very special occasion... one of us is getting married. (nopeee it's not me) I spent this morning cleaning the house and figuring out what to make for lunch since everyone would be driving into Boston.

Although this meal may not necessarily prevent wedding drama, you really can't go wrong with freshly made paninis served with a mint lemon iced green tea...

For the sandwiches:

Caprese.
serves 4

-3-4 baguettes or ciabatta loaves
-4 medium sized garden tomatoes
-fresh basil leaves
-1 mozzarella ball
-balsamic vinegar
-extra virgin olive oil

directions: Slice loaves lengthwise in half. Brush with balsamic and olive oil as desired. Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese into 1/4 slices. Arrange cheese and tomatoes on one half of baguette, add basil leaves. Slice sandwiches in half and serve.

Turkey-Avo-Swiss
serves 4

-4 pieces/loaves sourdough or ciabatta bread
-Russian/sundried tomato dressing (you can make this by hand or buy it...my version is an aioli with garlic and sundried tomato!)
-1/4 lb. Swiss cheese
-2 avocadoes
-1/4 lb. oven roasted turkey
-mixed spring greens

directions: Slice bread and spread with dressing. Top with swiss cheese, turkey, sliced tomatoes, and sliced avocado. Add greens as needed... One trick for pitting the avocado is to slice it first, then take a large, sharp knive and hit the pit in the center firmly. The knife lodges the pit and you can twist it out without messing up your avocado! (do not hit your hand though.)


mint & lemon iced tea:

-4 bags of favorite green/black tea (Twinings is pretty good for iced tea)
-honey
-1 lemon
-bunch of mint leaves
-ice

directions: Boil 4 quarts of water in kettle. Pour into serving pitcher, steep the tea bags for 8 minutes. Add honey as desired (I usually do about 3 tbsp. which is perfect so it's not overly sweet.) While tea is steeping, slice lemon into 1/4 in. slices and add to pitcher. Wash and pat dry the mint leaves, and add to the tea mix after the eight minutes is up. Add a couple cubes of ice as it's cooling to speed the process and prevent the mint from wilting. Chill before serving, and add more ice to your glasses!


photos to come...