The Better Panini Cupcakes In a Mason Jar

This week my mom took me to the toy store (Bed Bath & Beyond) and allowed me to pick out a few items. It had everything to do with her guilt for still not pick out an oven, but who am I to deny a free gift? I ended up getting a Cuisinart griddler, (product review to come after a few more uses) and have been madly panini-ing everything in sight. Left over take-out in the fridge? Bam! Now it's in a panini. Craving french toast? Hizzah! French toast panini sandwich. You get the idea. 

So when I saw a post on Panini Happy showing how to make cake on a panini grill, my eyes twinkled, and I got to work. 

This is one of those kitchen marvels that you just don't believe until you make it yourself. I modified the  recipe from how sweet eats, to make lemon cakes and I loved it!  At first I tried icing them like normal cakes, but that was a Britney circa 2007 train wreck. Instead I put it in a mason jar and managed to make it look presentable. I am rather partial to this recipe because it is scientific fact that calories don't exist when food is in miniature form. Don't try arguing with me on this one, it's a fight you just won't win. 

The Better Mini Sandwiches

I've said it before and I'll say it again with just as much conviction: everything tastes better in mini form. I've known this since I was in pre-schoo,l and my refined toddler pallet had a preference for petite finger food with no crust. Fast forward 15 years and still, not much has changed. I made two varieties the classic PB&J and a BLT. Both of which were taken to new levels of sophistication by their small size. 

To get the perfect sized bred rounds I used a mini cup, also seen in this post.

However, be warned that doing this does result in a lot of excess bread. I felt bad about tossing it so I saved it in a plastic bag and will be using it later for bread pudding. Resourceful? I think so.

A mandolin is key here for slicing the tomato. Usually I'm a fan of the big, thick slices on sandwiches and burgers, but those kinds of tomato slices have no place on a mini sandwich. Every thing here is about being cute and delicate.

The Better Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner: Spinach Goat Cheese Frittata Minis

It's a natural fact that everything is best in minis. I don't know why or how this works, and I believe it is a conundrum best left for Sheldon to solve. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that if you make it in a mini serving, you can have an unlimited amount, and still have consumed less than if you were to eat one regular size portion...or at least that's how it works in my mind. 
I also like to think that the spinach counteracts the less than healthy ham and cheese of these frittatas. I'm blissfully ignorant about nutrition, and for my happiness and sanity it is probably best that I stay this way.

{I like French bread with everything, so naturally...}

{Lining cups with prosciutto}

{Goat cheese}

{Egg, cheese, spinach, and milk mixture...it doesn't look to pretty yet}

{I used an ice cream scoop for even frittata minis}

My parents don't eat ham so I also made some with thinly sliced turkey meat and they were delicious too! I imagine that if I ever get sick of making French bread from scratch (I doubt it, but let's pretend for a second) I will serve these on the side of pancakes.