Grilled Banana Panini
- 1 store-bought angel food cake
- 2 ripe bananas (over-ripe is okay, too)
- 4 Tbs. butter
- 3 Tbs. Pedro Ximenez sherry or other dessert wine such as tawny Port, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise or Australian dessert Tokay, optional
- diced mango, fresh berries or other fresh seasonal fruit, optional
- Run a knife around edges of angel cake and turn it out onto a work surface.
- With a large serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into three equal layers, reserving top layer for another use or slicing it to grill along with panini.
- Place middle cake layer on a piece of foil large enough to hold it.
- Peel bananas, leaving them lying in peel for ease of handling and slice thinly on bias.
- Pick up one banana with both hands, holding slices together, and place on cake, spreading slices to cover half of cake ring.
- Repeat with other banana so you have a cake ring topped with a ring of bananas.
- Sprinkle with dessert wine, if using, and top with bottom cake layer.
- Use foil to cover the outside of a very heavy skillet, such as cast iron or enameled cast iron with a heat-proof handle.
- This will protect it from soot.
- Place skillet on grill and allow to heat on medium-high.
- When it's hot, add two tablespoons of the butter, spreading it with a spatula to coat skillet as it melts.
- Using your hands or two spatulas, carefully lift banana-filled panini into skillet.
- Use spatula to press edges firmly to give panini a uniform edge and re-adhere ragged pieces.
- Put a second heavy, heat-proof skillet on top of cake and press firmly to compact panini.
- Close grill and let panini toast on medium to medium-high until golden brown and crisp.
- Check periodically by lifting the edge with a spatula.
- Depending on how hot your grill is and how heavy the skillet, the butter can start to burn.
- With two spatulas, remove panini to foil piece and melt the rest of the butter in skillet, spreading it around with spatula to coat skillet evenly.
- Turn untoasted side of panini into skillet and return heavy skillet to the top, pressing again to compact.
- Toast until crisp and golden and bananas are soft - about another 10 minutes.
- Remove panini to a serving plate and serve in slices or on a bed of fresh seasonal fruit, if desired.
storebought angel food cake, bananas, butter, sherry, mango
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/grilled-banana-panini-recipe.html (may not work)