Chapter Three

Sandwiches

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

When I was younger, I would make these quesadillas whenever I was really hungry after school and dinner wasn’t ready yet. Good news: you can make quesadillas in a dining hall when you are just as desperate for something quick and basic. Try experimenting with different types of fillings. I like adding pesto or roasted red peppers.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Arrange the chicken and cheese on one side of the tortilla.
  2. 2. Fold the tortilla over and press in a panini press until you see dark grill marks. If you don’t have a panini press, microwave the quesadilla for about 1 minute, or until the cheese is fully melted.
  3. 3. Cut into pieces and enjoy with your favorite toppings.

Chicken Parm Sandwich

Sticking chicken Parmesan between two pieces of bread may seem a little too decadent, a little too reminiscent of something Paula Deen might make, but it totally works with this sandwich. Grilled chicken topped with gooey cheese and rich tomato sauce, all between crusty bread slices, makes for the ideal bite. Skip the second slice of bread and have it open-faced if you’re looking for something a little less substantial.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Top the chicken with tomato sauce and cheese.
  2. 2. Microwave the whole dish for about 40 seconds, or until the cheese melts.
  3. 3. Toast two pieces of bread.
  4. 4. Place the chicken Parmesan between the two slices of bread to make a sandwich.

Sloppy Joes

I first learned what Sloppy Joes were when I watched the under-appreciated Mary-Kate and Ashley movie It Takes Two and Mary-Kate (or Ashley?) called them “big, gooey, messy burgers.” I can guarantee that this Sloppy Joe, which is loaded with plenty of meat and spicy tomato flavor, lives up to both of its names. Make sure you aren’t wearing white when you make this one!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1. Top a meatball with a few big spoonfuls of tomato sauce, a generous squirt of ketchup, hot sauce, and a dash of chili powder.
  2. 2. Use a fork to mash the meatball.
  3. 3. Spoon the meat into the hamburger bun.

Apple Cinnamon Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Even the biggest grilled cheese purists like myself can get behind this sandwich. The cinnamon-sugar caramelizes in the panini press, and the apples “bake” to golden perfection. Alongside nutty cheddar cheese, it is a match made in heaven.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Toss apple slices in equal parts cinnamon and brown sugar.
  2. 2. Cover one slice of bread with cheddar cheese.
  3. 3. Stack the apples on the other slice of bread.
  4. 4. Close the sandwich and press it in a panini press until the cheese has melted.

Loaded Sweet Potato Press

Sweet potatoes are another one of those ingredients that can work in practically endless ways. They are perfect in a recipe like this because the soft flesh is easy to spread on a tortilla and their natural sweetness goes really well with salsa and cheese. Add chili powder if you are looking to kick it up a notch.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Spoon the potato out of the skin and spread it onto one side of the tortilla.
  2. 2. Mix a little bit of salsa into the potato.
  3. 3. Top the potato with black beans, cheese, and rice.
  4. 4. Fold the tortilla in half, and grill in the panini press, or roll it up and eat it burrito style.

Spinach-Artichoke Melt

I know many people who hate spinach and artichokes but love spinach-artichoke dip because it has so many crave-worthy characteristics: it’s gooey, hot, melty, and really cheesy. The only way to make this dip even better is to make it portable by putting it between two slices of bread.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Spread cream cheese on one slice of bread and sprinkle garlic powder on top.
  2. 2. Stack the spinach, cheese, and artichokes on top of the cream cheese.
  3. 3. Add a few shakes of salt and pepper.
  4. 4. Put another slice of bread on top and press the sandwich in the panini press until you see dark grill marks and all the cheese has melted.

Dining Hall Gourmet Burgers

Hamburgers are one of the most standard dining hall offerings, but with a few added ingredients, you can make yours a lot more interesting. This section will provide a few ideas to help make your burger extra special.

Start with a regular hamburger (bun + patty), and add . . .

Grilled Jam ’n’ Cheese Sandwich

Think grilled cheese sandwich meets strawberry shortcake. Jam and cream cheese are two of my favorite condiments, and they taste even better together in this sandwich.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Spread cream cheese on one piece of bread and strawberry jam on a second slice.
  2. 2. Close the sandwich and swipe a little butter on the outside of both pieces of bread.
  3. 3. Grill in a panini press just until the butter has melted and the sandwich is golden.

Dessert Paninis

Panini presses can deliver excellent desserts. Another favorite of mine is the S’mores Panini, which you can make with hot fudge or Nutella and mini marshmallows.

Pepperoni Pizza Pocket

This is essentially a much better (and healthier) version of a Hot Pocket, a fixture of many students' college experience. I like using different kinds of cheeses and salami instead of pepperoni to make the pizza pocket a little more interesting.

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Spread tomato sauce down the center of the tortilla.
  2. 2. Top with pepperoni or salami, cheese, and a few shakes of oregano.
  3. 3. Roll up like a burrito, tucking in the sides, and grill in a panini press or heat in a microwave until the cheese is melted.