Meatball Slider Paninis

With Laurie Lufkin

Where do contest winning recipe ideas come from? Laurie Lufkin successfully answered this question again and won $1,000 in a recipe contest by Cooked Perfect Meatballs with this super snack. The core of her inspiration was to make a cranberry mayo to go with what else, turkey. The New England influence did not stop there, since she also added slices of cheddar cheese and a Cortland apple.

The official name for these prize-winners is Cooked Perfect New England Turkey Meatball Mini Slider Paninis. Using meatballs already made make these real easy but the combination of cranberry sauce, apple slices, extra sharp cheddar cheese and homemade cranberry mayonnaise sauce will make sure you score a lot of points at your super bowl party.

Slice and brown meatballs on a grill. While they brown, prepare the mayonnaise and slice the apples and cheese. Layer ingredients on the roll and grill the whole sandwich panini style until warm and the ingredients have all melted together.

Ingredients

Half-ounce Cooked Perfect Turkey meatballs - 18
Good quality mayonnaise - 1/3 cup
Whole berry cranberry sauce - 2/3 cup
Apple cider vinegar - 1 tablespoon
Tart apple such as Honey Crisp, thinly sliced - 1 or 2
Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, thinly sliced
Fresh baby arugula
Potato rolls or small soft buns - 12
Softened butter

Instructions

1. Place meatballs in a microwave safe dish. Heat on full power for 4-5 minutes, stir and heat again for one minute.
2. Allow to rest until cool enough to touch. Cut in half.
3. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, cranberry sauce and vinegar. Set aside.
4. To prepare sandwiches, spread cranberry mayonnaise on the insides of both sides of the rolls.
5. Layer on halved Cooked Perfect Turkey Meatballs, flat side down.
6. Top meatballs with sliced apples, followed by the cheese and baby arugula.
7. Top with the other half of the roll.
8. Preheat electric panini press or cast iron pan.
9. Lightly butter one side of the slider and place on the pan or press, butter side down.
10. Lightly butter remaining side of the roll and press.
11. Cook until roll is lightly browned, cheese is melted and sandwich is heated thoroughly.
12. Makes 12 sliders, enjoy!

*Recipe can be made with any style of Cooked Perfect meatballs.

Recipe courtesy of Laurie Lufkin, Host of Inspired Cooking, 2010.

From Food For Thought Column about Laurie by Heather Atwood:

Her mother and grandmother taught her to cook. She is teaching her daughter, 9-year-old Lilly, to cook, but the sensible checkered-apron imagery stops there when describing Essex resident Laurie Lufkin. The energy spilling from her Cape Ann TV cable access program, "Inspired Cooking," should be harnessed and re-sold by National Grid. Admittedly unschooled in culinary arts, Laurie Lufkin, 44, is an example of someone who has found her niche and is powered by her passion. Her instincts for a good recipe, for taste and texture combinations, make up for her lack of formal education.

Her vivacity is clearly fueled by love; Laurie loves and is brilliant at recognizing a good recipe, and then making it a blue-ribbon winner. Her grandmother's Essex clam cakes for example: Two years ago Laurie took this recipe, added clam broth and cream to her version, and turned it into something Food Network-competitive, landing her on the program's "Ultimate Recipe Showdown — Hometown Favorites." Laurie didn't win the $25,000, but getting to be one of four finalists from around the country wasn't bad for a girl who runs a silk-screen business and whose hobby seems to have long ago out-raced her vocation.

When she insists I understand that her mother taught her how to cook, that she makes wonderful chicken soups, legendary pumpkin and date nut bread, that she made a great dinner every night with few resources, I listen.

The apple does not fall far from the tree as Laurie's daughter Lily recently appeared on national TV and a national parenting magazine with a recipe she created called "Monkey Business Chocolate Rice Pudding."

Laurie's recipes have appeared in such publications as "Taste of Home," "Family Circle" and will she will be featured in an upcoming issue of "Yankee Magazine."

Contact Heather at heatheraa@aol.com. Her blog is at gloucestertimes.com/foodforthought