Hot Tuscan Sandwich For An Easy Weeknight Meal

Yes, a trip to Tuscany is preferable, but traveling to Italy through culinary means, I believe is a close second.  Maybe that's why I usually feed my family as if we live in an Italian/American Restaurant. :)


Whenever I've traveled to Italy, the most memorable meals have not been the large elaborate ones but oddly enough the end-of-the-trip-we're-out-of-money ones.  We collect the pesto and thinly sliced ham at the butcher, the crusty bread from the baker and the cheese at the market, and find a beautiful square to sit down on a stone curb.  We rip off hunks of fresh bread, our fingers digging into the soft interior and dip it into the oily pesto, chunky with pinenuts.   We might chat about that day's museum or just watch the beautiful Italian people gesticulating wildly as they walk by.    


This is a meal we can easily remake at home.   To make it simple, I spread pesto on croissants or whole wheat subs (as it was this last Wednesday), layer the ham, add some provolone, wrap the whole sandwich in foil and stick it in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  With a croissant, I often roast it open faced without the cheese and add toasted walnuts.  Easy...and the meal comes complete with sun-drenched memories.