Cheesy Brown Tomato Panini with Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade

Mmmm, mmm, mmm!

Happy dance time!

I love it when an idea turns into a delicious new meal!

I was shopping at Trader Joe’s a couple days ago and spotted brown tomatoes. Yes, brown tomatoes. I’ve seen green, yellow, red of course, but not brown. I had to pick some up.

There is really no difference in taste compared to a red tomato, but I thought the color was so pretty and unique. I decided after my run tonight that I would pull out my old friend, my Giada panini maker, and grill up a sandwich. Have I mentioned just how much I love my Giada panini maker? It was a Christmas gift from Mark, and I used it nonstop until he went into the hospital. I couldn’t bear to use it until he came home two months later. Now I’m making up for lost time!

I love sun-dried tomato tapenade, and I normally just use the store-bought. I was feeling adventurous and decided to make my own. All I can say is wow! So delicious! Homemade tapenade from now on people!

I combined sun-dried tomatoes, capers, kalamata olives, garlic pepper, garlic, and olive oil in the food processor and mixed until I got this chunky goodness.

I drizzled olive oil on two slices of hearty bread. The olive oil helps make GREAT grill marks. I flipped the bread over and spread a couple spoonfuls of tapenade on each slice. I sprinkled a healthy portion of shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese on one slice, then layered the brown tomato slices on top.

I put the remaining slice of bread on top and put the sandwich on the panini grill. After about a minute, the appearance of the classic golden grill marks and the oozing cheese told me it was ready!

Fresh basil would be great on this sandwich. I didn’t have any leaves left on my basil plant, otherwise I would have added some. I like to add basil after the sandwich is grilled. I tried it a couple times with the basil on the sandwich as it grills, but the heat makes the basil too well done in my opinion.

I used some of the tapenade to dip my sandwich in. Mmm, heaven. I can’t wait to have the other half for lunch tomorrow!

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