Pressed Picnic Sandwich

Had to take a break from the news, it was too much. Tomorrow a friend and I are going to check out a free Latino concert at Yerba Buena gardens. Monday, we'll head east to Oakland for the art and soul festival (details at ArtandSoulOakland.com.) In preparation for these two outings, I will finally take advantage of a perfect opportunity to try a sandwich recipe I saw on the Martha Stewart show a few years ago. I just got home from the grocery store and already the fresh basil is making my mouth water.

Pressed Picnic Sandwich (Serves 10)
Note: This sandwich can be made one day ahead of time; instead of adding the vinaigrette in step three, add it just before you pack the sandwich, or one hour before serving.

3 medium red bell peppers 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons warm water Salt and freshly ground pepper 1 loaf rustic Italian bread, such as ciabatta

1/2 cup prepared black-olive paste 8 ounces fresh goat cheese 8 ounces marinated artichoke hearts 6 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced 1/4 pound peppered salami, thinly sliced 2 1/4 cups loosely packed mixed fresh herbs, such as basil, cilantro, or parsley

1. Heat a grill or grill pan to hot; or heat broiler. Cook peppers until completely charred, turning frequently so all sides cook evenly, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Place peppers in a deep bowl, and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Set bowl aside until the skins loosen and the peppers are cool enough to handle. Using your hands, rub off the charred skin, rinsing your hands frequently under cold running water. Slice peppers in half, and remove the seeds and stems. Cut flesh into 1-inch-wide strips.  
2. Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, combine mustard and vinegar. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Whisk in 2 tablespoons warm water. Whisk in salt and pepper to taste, and set the vinaigrette aside.  
3. Slice loaf of bread horizontally, and remove soft crumb; reserve crumb for another use. Spread olive paste on the bottom crust, and add the pepper strips. Crumble goat cheese on top of peppers. Arrange artichoke hearts over goat cheese. Drizzle half of the reserved vinaigrette on top. Arrange prosciutto and salami over artichoke hearts. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette. Scatter herbs over meats. Place the top crust on sandwich.  
4. Wrap the sandwich tightly with plastic wrap. Set a weight, such as a brick or large cast-iron skillet on top for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve, slice sandwich into ten pieces.