Ronnie Fein

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Peanut Butter and Banana Panini

What do you feed a kid who doesn’t like a whole lot of things to eat?

It’s vacation time for the kids in public school. In New York anyway, where my grandkids are. So, happily, luckily for me, my grandchildren came for a visit for a couple of days.

One of my grandsons doesn’t like meat (poultry or fish). Or vegetables. Not even french fries. Even pizza is iffy. 

Ohmyohmyohmy.

He does love cheese blintzes, but you can’t eat that every day. And he eats pasta and butter. And grilled cheese. And macaroni and cheese — sometimes. Fortunately, he loves and eats most fruit.

So, I think long and hard about what to buy before he comes for a visit. 

The other day I made him a Peanut Butter and Banana panini. 

It was such a hit that he asked for a second sandwich.

That was a first! 

A couple of days later another grandchild came for a visit and I told her about the sandwich, which sounded so good to her that she asked for one too.

She ate the entire sandwich, crust and all! (She’s only 5 so a second sandwich was out of the question.)

That was a first also.

For all of you who cook for kids who might be fussy eaters or who balk at a variety of food or who just like peanut butter and jelly, here’s the recipe for the sandwich that was such a big hit:

GRILLED PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA PANINI

2 slices whole-wheat bread

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 tablespoon raspberry jam

1/2 banana, cut into slices

2 teaspoons butter

Spread one slice of bread with the peanut butter. Spread the other slice with the jam. Place the banana slices on top of the peanut butter. Place the jam-slathered bread slice, jam side down, on top of the peanut butter side. Heat half the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted, place the sandwich in the pan. Place another, heavier pan on top. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the bottom is lightly brown. Remove the heavier pan, lift the sandwich with a spatula and add the remaining butter to the pan. When the butter has melted, turn the sandwich onto the uncooked side, weigh down with the heavier pan and cook for another 2 minutes or until second side is golden brown. (Of course if you have a panini pan, use that!)

Makes 1 serving.