Turkey Muffuletta

It's that time of year! This is a great sandwich for a picnic. The flavor is amazing! I used Ciabatta bread in this picture, but it works with a skinnier artisan loaf as well.



TURKEY MUFFULETTA
From: Taste of Home
Yield: 6

1-pound loaf Italian bread
1/3 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. minced fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 pound sliced deli turkey
6 oz. provolone cheese, thinly sliced
1 (7-oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained/sliced (or look below)
1/2 cup sliced pimento olives
1 large tomato, sliced
3 Tbsp. shredded Romano cheese
1 Tbsp. minced fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper

Cut bread in half lengthwise; carefully hollow out top and bottom, leaving a 1-inch shell. Discard removed bread.

In a small bowl, combine oil, vinegar, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper flakes; brush over cut sides of bread. In the bottom shell, layer turkey, provolone cheese, red peppers, olives, and tomato. Sprinkle with Romano cheese, oregano, and pepper. Replace bread top.

Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 30 minutes (A MUST FOR FLAVOR!) Cut into slices.
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Roasting your own red peppers is a lot tastier and cheaper than store-bought. Here's what you do:

ROASTED RED PEPPERS:

* Coat eat pepper with 1 tsp. of vegetable oil (not extra-virgin olive oil) with a pastry brush, getting into the folds.
* Arrange peppers on a baking sheet on the highest rack in your oven and broil. Watch carefully so they don't become too scorched.
* When dark spots appear, turn the peppers over. Continue until the whole pepper is scorched.
* Remove the peppers from the oven and place them into a bowl large enough to accommodate them.
* Cover with plastic wrap, making sure to seal completely. This will steam the peppers.
* About 15-20 minutes later, or when they are cool enough to handle, gently peel the skin off of each pepper.
* Then, hold one end of the pepper in one hand and squeeze down the length of the pepper with your other hand. This will remove the membrane and seeds.
* Open with a knife and scrape off any excess.
* Cut into desired pieces.