Frugal Feasts: Turn free tuna into tuna-artichoke paninis

Each Wednesday, I offer a recipe based on what's on sale at the grocery store. This week, Kroger is running one of their $5 off when you buy 10 items on the sale list. Bumblebee Tuna, 2.5 ounce pouch, ends up being 49 cents each, or FREE if you have some of those 55 cents off/1 coupons that are floating out there. Who can pass up FREE tuna?

For a complete list of other good deals at Kroger, check out Sue Stock's Taking Stock blog on Wednesdays where she pairs coupons with what's on sale at the grocery store. 

So I wanted to use this new cookbook that has come in recently: "Quick, Cheap Comfort Food: 100-plus Fresh Recipes for Meals in a Hurry," by Victoria Shearer. She has a recipe for a tuna-artichoke panini that really is just a new take on the tuna melt so I adapted it to use that free tuna.

And since I've been cleaning off my desk recently and running cookbook giveaways, I thought I'd give away a copy of this cookbook. Here is the deal: you have to leave a comment at the bottom of this post before noon Friday, Nov. 6. I will choose a winner at random and mail them a copy of the cookbook.

Here is a link to three more cookbook giveaways running on the blog right now. 

Tuna-Artichoke Panini

2 (2.5-ounce) packets of tuna in water
1/4  cup prepared artichoke tapenade or chopped marinated artichokes
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped sweet onions
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 (3/4 to 1-inch thick) slices crusty artisan bread
Olive oil spray
8 slices baby Swiss cheese 

Preheat the George Foreman-style grill. (If you don't have a George Foreman-style grill like me, use a combination of two iron skillets, one larger than the other. One at a time,  put a sandwich in a heated large iron skillet and press the sandwich down with the second smaller skillet to toast the sandwiches and melt the cheese. You will have to flip them halfway through the 4 1/2 minute cooking time and continue pressing with the smaller sandwich to get that pressed sandwich result. If you are frugal, you're going to use what you have on hand instead of buying single-purpose kitchen equipment.) 

Mix tuna, artichokes, mayonnaise, onions, lemon juice, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl.  Spray or brush one side of 8 slices of bread with olive oil. Turn slices over. Place one slice of cheese on top of those eigh bread slices. Spread with tuna-artichoke on four of those slices of bread with cheese. Put halves together to form a sandwich. Place sandwich on grill and close lid. Cook for 4 1/2 minutes until bread is golden brown, tuna is heated through and cheese has melted. Serve immediately. 

Makes 4 sandwiches.

Cost breakdown: 

Tuna, 2 (2.5 ounce packets) for 49 cents each, Cost for meal: 98 cents, or free if you have any of those coupons 
Artichokes, $1.79 for 6 ounces, Cost for meal: 60 cents
Mayonnaise, $2.49 for 32 ounces, Cost for meal: 12 cents
Vidalia onion, $1 for one, Cost for meal: 25 cents
Lemon, 42 cents for one, Cost for meal: 5 cents
Good bread, $2.69 for a loaf, Cost for meal: $2.69
Swiss cheese, $2.29 for 8 ounces, Cost for meal: $2.29

Cost for meal: $6.98

Cost per serving: $1.74