Recreating your favorite restaurant menu items at home is not only economical; it’s a great way to get the family excited about homemade meals again. One of our favorite lunch menu items to make at home is the panini sandwich.

There are an infinite number of options for making a great Panini sandwich, but the one kitchen essential you need every time is a great panini press. We love the Calphalon Panini Grill for whipping up authentic-tasting panini creations at home. It also doubles as a great non-stick grill for fish, veggies, and meats!

Looking for a new recipe to try out this weekend? Check out this delicious and healthy vegetarian panini:

Panzanella Panini* by Mrs. Williams

1 French deli roll, split

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

2 slices mozzarella cheese

1 small tomato, sliced

4 fresh basil leaves

olive oil

1. Preheat a skillet over medium-low heat.
2. Sprinkle cut sides of roll with balsamic vinegar. Layer one slice of mozzarella cheese, tomato slices, basil leaves, and the remaining slice of mozzarella cheese on the roll. Close sandwich; rub outside with olive oil.
3. Place sandwich in preheated panini press. Cook until bread is toasted and golden, about 3 minutes.

*Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com®

Many shoe designers start their careers because they either can’t find the type of shoe that they want or because they are inspired to create their own shoe design. Both of these scenarios fit the beginning story for Vegetarian Shoes. This shoe design company was founded in 1990 by a vegetarian who wanted to create a great looking shoe that used a material other than leather.

Vegetarian Shoes – The Beginning
Vegetarian Shoes was founded by an artist who just happened to be a vegetarian. After art school, Robin Webb, the founder of Vegetarian Shoes, read a story about people in Africa who were making shoes from old tire rubber. This story of ingenuity and practical recycling inspired him to come up with his own shoe design.

The first problem that Webb ran into was finding a breathable but durable material to use for his shoes. Fortune shined on Webb when he found a synthetic material used by yachters to upholster their boats. This material looked and felt like real leather, however, it was breathable, which was unusual for a synthetic-plastic material.

Vegetarian Shoes started out with a basic, handmade, lace-up shoe design that Webb made himself. The line’s popularity exploded, and soon Webb was designing and manufacturing boots, shoes, sandals and even belts. Today Webb doesn’t manufacture the shoes. Instead, this part of the business is farmed out to co-op manufacturers in Britain and other countries in Europe. Webb, however, still runs the sales end of things at a Brighton shoe shop.

Current Vegetarian Shoes Line
The current Vegetarian Shoes enterprise has expanded to include several distinct shoe lines. The casual sports line is one of the most popular. It includes shoe designs like the Slouch Shoe, the Aztec Shoe and X-trainers. The women’s shoe line is also very popular. In this line, you will find designs like the Audrey Shoe, the Creeper and the Esme Loafer. Other lines offered by Vegetarian Shoes include women’s boots, men’s shoes, men’s boots, off-road/hiking shoes, Airseal footwear, Birkenstock sandals, general sandals and slip-ons and safety footwear. Vegetarian Shoes have also branched out into other clothing and accessory products such as jackets, belts and bags.

This week’s blog entry isn’t meant to criticize the nutritional value of meat. In fact, I feel that lean proteins are essential for a healthy lifestyle. Instead, this week’s entry is meant to inspire you to find new ways to increase your vegetable and fiber intake. In this week’s blog, we’ll discuss the importance of meatless meals and what they can do for your body and wallet.

Meatless meals allow you to pack high levels of nutrition into one meal. Instead of preparing a meal where the vegetables and whole grains play supporting roles, you can prepare a meal where they get the lead role. Just imagine how healthy the meal could be. You could prepare a vegetable stir fry served over a bed of whole wheat pasta or brown rice. You could even have a Southern meal of green beans with new potatoes and cornbread. Of course, you can’t forget salads and soups. Meatless meals can be loaded with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. All you need to do is choose healthy ingredients.

Now, we must not forget another important factor. Meatless meals can be more affordable. If there’s anything we need right now, it’s more affordable meals. With the cost of groceries continuously on the rise, meatless meals can help you afford healthier ingredients. By eating one or two meatless meals a week, you’ll have more money to spend on lean protein. This ensures that you’re able to choose healthier cuts of meat, rather than settling for what’s on sale.

If you’re a meat lover like I am, you may be intimidated by meat-free meals. You don’t have to be though. There are hundreds of meatless meals that satisfy your cravings for meat. For example, bean burritos and Portobello burgers are very satisfying. By no means am I asking you to eat tofu. I’m just asking you to consider recipes that are meat-free.