Peanut Butter Banana Panini

Need I say more? To me, this will always be the perfect lunch. No sandwich is more satisfying. (And it's filling and nutritious.) Forget the grill and it can be fixed in a snap, although if you can spare a few moments, the melted peanut butter oozing out between sweet plump banana rounds is unbelievable! The hardest part is having a ripe banana on hand. I could eat this every single day and never have enough.

I inherited this profound love for peanut butter and banana from my mother. I once thought she was crazy to combine the two. But now I call her wise. You can make many varieties of this basic sandwich...lose a slice of bread and eat it open-faced or add a drizzle of honey for a sweet treat. Substitute Nutella for the peanut butter (or use both) and you have another perfect panini. Really. It's that good!

INGREDIENTS
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 banana, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
1 Tbsp. peanut butter

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat grill pan or panini press. Spread peanut butter over one slice of bread. Place slices of banana over the peanut butter. Top with the second slice of bread. Grill until the bread has crisped and the peanut butter is beginning to melt. Serve warm.

Makes 1 sandwich.