Sicilian Hero Slices

* Sicilian Hero Slices*
2 red bell peppers
1 (24-inch-long) thin baguette with soft crust, cut lengthwise, 1 long side
left attached
3 T. mayonnaise
1 T. tapenade, olivada (black olive paste) or chopped oil-cured olives
1/2 t. balsamic vinegar
1/2 t. Dijon mustard
6 thin slices mortadella
9 thin slices Genoa salami
9 thin slices provolone
6 large, firm cherry tomatoes, sliced paper-thin
8 large basil leaves
Sprigs fresh basil, for garnish
Place a rack 3 inches from the heat source; turn on the broiler. Line a
baking pan with foil. Cut off both ends of the peppers. Stand the peppers on
a board and cut off the sides into 4 slabs. Arrange them on the prepared
pan, skin side up. Broil until the skin is blackened, 5 minutes. Remove the
peppers from the oven. Use the foil lining to wrap the peppers so they
steam. Let them rest about 10 minutes, then slip off their skins. (The
peppers can be refrigerated up to 3 days, or frozen up to 1 month. To
freeze, put each pepper in small, airtight plastic bag.)
Trim the ends off the baguette. Rub a moistened paper towel over the crust
to soften. Open the baguette and pull out the soft bread, leaving a 1/4-inch
margin. Combine the mayonnaise, olive paste, vinegar and mustard in a small
dish. Spread it evenly on the cut sides of the bread.
Cut the bell peppers, meats and cheese to fit the bread with no overhang.
First, layer the red peppers in a single layer, then evenly layer the meats,
cheese, tomatoes and basil leaves. Close the bread. Press gently with your
hands. Cut the loaf in 3 equal portions. Wrap each airtight in plastic;
twist the ends.
Unwrap the portions. Insert a toothpick into each, if needed, to keep the
bread together. Cut each as desired (6 thin or 3 thick pieces) Arrange the
sandwiches on a platter; garnish with basil sprigs.
-- 
My favorite line from a movie & so true :-) The American President
They don't have a choice! Rob
Rumson's the only one doing the
talking. People want leadership.
And in the absence of genuine
leadership, they will listen to
anyone who steps up to the
microphone. They want leadership,
Mr. President. They're so thirsty
for it, they'll crawl through the
desert toward a mirage, and when
they discover there's no water,
they'll drink the sand.
SHEPHERD
 (evenly)
Lewis, we've had Presidents who were
beloved, who couldn't find a coherent
sentence with two hands and a
flashlight. People don't drink the
sand, 'cause they're thirsty, Lewis.
They drink it 'cause they don't know
the difference.
== Contributed by: ==
* Catsrecipes Y-Group
Category:Cathy's Recipes