The Big Egg Monte Cristo Food

CHEF JOHN'S MONTE CRISTO BENEDICT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whisk 2 eggs, cream, white sugar, salt, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and allspice together in a bowl until batter is thoroughly combined.
• Lay bread slices into batter, one at a time, and let bread absorb the mixture. Turn bread slices in batter until almost all batter has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and melt butter in the hot skillet. Cook bread slices in the hot butter until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast slices to a baking sheet.
• Lay ham slices into the hot skillet and cook until meat begins to brown, about 1 minute per side.
• To assemble, place a Cheddar cheese slice on a slice of French toast, top with 2 slices of ham, and lay a Havarti cheese slice over ham.
• Bake in the preheated oven until French toast pieces are no longer wet, the batter is set, and cheese has melted and begun to brown, about 20 minutes.
• Place sandwiches on serving plates and top each with 2 poached eggs. Season with kosher salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

CLASSIC MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Pair with homemade french fries , a side salad, and a pickle, and enjoy.

EGGNOG MONTE CRISTOS

Steps:

• Mix the mustard and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Lay out 3 slices of bread and brush each with about 1 teaspoon of the mustard mixture. Top each piece of bread with 1 slice each of cheese, turkey and ham. Cover with another slice of bread and brush with another teaspoon of the mustard mixture; top each sandwich with another slice each of cheese, turkey and ham. Brush the remaining 3 bread slices with the mustard mixture and place mustard-side down on top of the sandwiches.
• Trim the crusts, then wrap the sandwiches tightly with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. (Wrapping the sandwiches helps keep them compact.)
• Whisk the eggnog and nutmeg in a shallow bowl. Unwrap the sandwiches and dip in the eggnog, turning to coat both sides. Melt half of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook until the undersides are golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining butter, flip the sandwiches and cook until golden on the other side, about 3 more minutes.
• Cut the sandwiches into quarters. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired, and serve with cranberry sauce.

MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• Fill a Dutch oven 3/4-inch deep with peanut oil and bring to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together flour, soda water and egg until combined, then set aside.
• Place one piece of the bread on a prep surface and add the Swiss cheese, then ham.
• On the second piece of bread place the turkey, then American cheese.
• Sandwich together, making sure that all the fillings aren't sticking out, to prevent burning.
• Dip sandwich in batter, being sure to coat it completely, then drop into oil. Cook until golden brown, for 3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes.
• Remove and let drain on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar, then cut sandwich into quarters and serve with a side of raspberry preserves.

ITALIAN MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the jam, mustard and rosemary. Lay out the slices of bread. Divide the mustard mixture evenly over the 8 slices of bread and spread almost to the edges. Put a slice of cheese on each piece of bread, followed by 2 slices of prosciutto. Put together 2 of the bread slices for each sandwich.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Add the heavy cream and salt and whisk to combine.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil to the pan and heat for 1 minute. Working with one sandwich at a time, dip both sides of the sandwich in the batter and place directly into the hot pan. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches. Cover with a lid and allow to cook until the first side is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the lid, flip each sandwich and continue to cook on the remaining side until golden brown and the cheese is melted, approximately another 4 minutes. (Or cook in batches if needed.)
• Sprinkle one side of each sandwich with powdered sugar and serve warm.

MEMPHIS MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat a large griddle pan over medium heat with vegetable oil.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, sugar, salt, and cayenne until blended. Pour into an 8 by 8-inch baking pan.
• Spread some of the barbecue sauce onto each slice of bread. On 4 pieces bread, add 1 slice each of cheese, ham, and turkey, and repeat layer. Top with the other pieces of bread and press the sandwiches together with your hands. Dip into the wet batter turn to coat.
• Add the battered sandwiches to the hot griddle and cook until golden brown on 1 side. Flip and continue cooking the other side until golden. Remove to a rack-lined sheet tray. Put into the preheated oven and bake until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Remove to a cutting board and slice into triangles. Dust with Neely's dry rub, if desired, and serve.