Bacon Cheddar Paninis

If you are anything like me, and truly believe that sandwiches taste better when someone else makes them, then thrust this recipe into the hands of another if you must. It's that good.

Bacon Cheddar Panini
- 8 pieces wheat bread
- butter for toasting
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 pieces bacon
- 1 large tomato, thinly sliced

Spread Mixture
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp course ground prepared mustard
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp parsley

Combine mayo, mustard, garlic powder and parsley in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. Cook bacon, preferably on a griddle that can be used for cooking sandwiches as well. Drain on paper towels and remove most of the grease from the griddle, leaving a little for cooking the sandwiches.

Lightly butter the outside of 4 pieces of the bread, placing butter side down on griddle. Generously smother spread mixture on bread. Top each piece of bread with two pieces bacon, broken into smaller pieces to fit. Layer tomatoes, then 1/4 cup cheese per sandwich. Before placing top layer of bread on the sandwich, coat inner side with spread, outer side with light butter.

Toast both sides until golden brown, cooking until cheese is melted, pressing down evenly to squish the sandwich a bit. Ideally, you would have a panini maker to create this sandwich.

I'm telling you, this sandwich is that good. I've got to stop cooking or my life of eating out will forever be ruined. This is better than any sandwich I've ever paid for.