Southampton - In Italy, panini refers to any kind of sandwich - but here, it's all about the cheese.

Bursting with cheese and flavorful ingredients, the panino is a popular lunchtime favorite at delis and cafes across America. However, it's easy to enjoy a mouthwatering panino at home any day of the week by using premium cheeses and experimenting with different ingredients.

Tiffany Collins, chef and author of "200 Best Panini Recipes," suggests making small twists on classic sandwiches and using natural, not processed, cheese.

"The panino is all about the cheese - it's what holds the sandwich together. I only use 100 percent natural, real cheese like Sargento Sharp Cheddar, Baby Swiss and the new Natural Blends Cheddar Mozzarella," Chef Collins said. "The flavor profile and variety of Sargento cheeses is amazing, so you can find the perfect combination of ingredients to suit your own personal tastes, like in my Island Pineapple Chicken Panini or Veggie Stuffed Grilled Cheese Panini."

Panini Tips:

 • Breads with a firmer texture hold up better (e.g. ciabatta). If the bread is softer, you can brush a little bit of olive oil on the outside of a panino before grilling to give it a crisper texture.

 • When making a breakfast panino, try sautéing the vegetables (e.g., green peppers, baby spinach) and then use the same pan to cook the eggs so the eggs will pick up some extra flavor.

 • Cut a panino with a sharp knife that has a straight edge. Serrated knives can catch on the melted ingredients, pulling them out of the sandwich.

 • To make your vegetables and fruit stay crisp and crunchy, add them to your panino after grilling.