I picked up a copy of Rachel Ray's Magazine the other day and came across a recipe for a grilled veggie sandwich - with EVOO and sounding very YUM-O! It reminded me of a sandwich I used to make - so I dug through my pile of recipes and after 20 minutes of searching I found it...and now we're really talking YUM-O! (Rach certainly doesn't hold the patent on stupid, silly and inane...or does she?) 
Using my trusty grill pan because it was RAINING OUTSIDE once again...I saw my poor little 93 year old neighbor going out to get her mail - she was bundled up in a fleece jacket, boots, hat, gloves, with a scarf around her face...AND an umbrella - criminy! it's JUNE people!! Off topic - sorry, I'm must still be suffering from hypothermia...
Grilling the veggies is easy as can be - but since the grill pan surface is not all that large it had to be done in batches...eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, red pepper, onion...takes about 10 minutes. In between I made pesto with basil, pine nuts and EVOO...sorry, I must be channeling my inner Rachel Ray again...extra virgin olive oil - with a little more oil than normally used because I want it to soak into the bread.
Everything gets layered into the hollowed out bread - you can use sour dough bread if you like but I prefer to use a crusty loaf of French bread - provolone cheese is layered in between each veggie or meat...again, allow me to say YUM-O!
After filling the round of bread and putting the top back on, wrap that little beauty up in foil and pop in the oven for about 45 minutes...and when you cut into it...everything is hot and the cheese has melted and the aroma is fantabulous! (A word that Rach has not yet used but I'm sure after she reads this she will incorporate it into her daily litany of linguistic assualts!)
Grilled Italian Sandwich - by Me
1 round loaf of crusty French bread - 8 to 9-inches
1/2 lb. deli-sliced provolone cheese
1/4 lb. deli-style turkey, thinly sliced
1/4 lb. salami, thinly sliced
1 small eggplant, sliced slightly less than 1/2-inch thick
1 zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup white mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 large bunch fresh basil, 5 large leaves reserved
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
**This recipe makes enough for two sandwich rounds. I only made one, and used the remaining veggies in a soup the next day. If you are making two be sure to purchase another round of bread.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray grill or a grill pan with cooking spray. Preheat grill to medium-high. Coat all veggies lightly with olive oil - you will use about 1/4 of a cup. Salt and pepper veggies as you go. Grill until lightly browned on one side, flip and grill on other side, about 5 minutes combined. Repeat with all veggies, transferring grilled veggies to a plate. Using a serrated knife, slice off the top quarter of the bread and scoop out the insides, leaving about a 1/2-inch layer on the bottom and sides. Set aside. Using a food processor, puree the pine nuts and basil (about 1/2 cup of basil) while slowly adding the remaining olive oil. Season pesto with salt and pepper and pulse a few more times.
Spread the pesto on the inside of the bread and around the sides (as best you can) and on the lid. Begin layering the round by placing overlapping pieces of provolone cheese on the bottom on the round, followed by veggies, more provolone, turkey, provolone, veggies, provolone, salami, veggies - you get the idea. When the round is maxed, top with the 5 reserved basil leaves and sprinkle the chopped olives on top. Put the lid on and wrap loaf in aluminum foil. Place on baking sheet in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven, carefully unwrap, and using a hot pad or towel, press down firmly on the round, then cut in half and half again. Serves 4.
"A woman without jewelry is like a house without furniture." Anonymous
(I can't remember if I've used that quote before...oh well, if I have it definitely deserves repeating...too bad the mister can't read!"
