We had a potluck at work a couple of days ago and I wanted to bring something bite-size and homemade. Considering we had a meeting after and I was not able to leave for dinner, I also wanted to bring something that I knew I enjoyed!

I decided to make Giada’s recipe for five-star mini Italian club sandwiches, filled with homemade pesto, crispy bacon, fresh turkey, silky provolone cheese and delicate egg crepes. These ingredients truly make for a savory sandwich. I always double the recipe when I make this sandwich because it is typically gobbled up quite fast.

The original recipe instructs to distribute the amount of ingredients listed below among two focaccia loaves. I, however, prefer to double the recipe and still use two loaves because it gives the sandwiches more height and substance. In addition, I make Giada’s homemade pesto (recipe below) instead of store-bought because its flavor is an integral part of this dish.

These mini sandwiches are impressive for any dinner party or event. Not only are they easy to assemble and transport, but they also look and taste absolutely scrumptious!

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The other night, my brother mentioned that he was craving pizza for dinner. His suggestion inspired me to make homemade pizza, since I was not about to let him make DiGiorno pizza or order from Pizza Hut. I decided to make a pesto pizza topped with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and dollops of ricotta cheese, as well as a bbq pizza topped with chicken, fontina cheese, red onions and cilantro.

Both pizzas turned out absolutely delicious, which my brother and I proved when he moved on to his seventh piece and I onto my fourth.

Pizza making is not necessarily an art. The amount of toppings added and thickness of the crust, for example, is entirely up to the chef. Therefore, I do not have exact measurements for my pizza recipes. I just dumped and sprinkled ingredients until satisfied. As seen in one of the pictures, my bbq chicken pizza did not turn out perfectly circular. But I love that the pies weren’t flawless—the imperfections gave them character.

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