Pressed Italian Sandwiches

Step 1

Slice ciabatta loaf in half horizontally.

Step 2

Spread desired amount of pesto over the bottom half of the bread. Don' t over-saturate the bread.

Step 3

Layer the Italian meats over the pesto. Top with the sliced cheese. Layer the spinach, basil or other greens over the cheese.

Step 4

Optional toppings can be added to either the top or the bottom of the sandwich.

Step 5

Place the top half of the loaf over the sandwich fillings.

Step 6

Wrap the sandwich thoroughly with plastic wrap. Place a heavy cutting board or other flat object on top of sandwich and weight it down with a 2- to 4-lb. weight (such as a cast iron skillet or six-pack of soda).

Step 7

Let the sandwich sit for at least 6 hours, but preferably over night. Unwrap, cut into 8 pieces and serve.