Ultimate Monte Cristo Food

MONTE CRISTO BREAKFAST SANDWICH

Steps:

• Make the French toast: Whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Place the bread slices in the bowl of egg mixture and coat both sides. Heat 2 skillets (each large enough to hold 2 slices of bread) over medium heat. Add half of the butter to each. When the butter begins to foam and brown slightly on the edges, arrange 2 slices of bread in each skillet. Cook until the undersides have browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn the slices over and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, reducing the heat to medium-low if the bread is browning too quickly. Transfer the French toast to a plate and let cool slightly. Wipe out the skillets. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook the sandwiches: Return the skillets to medium heat and add about 1 tablespoon butter to each. Allow the butter to melt and froth, swirling to coat the bottoms of the skillets. Divide the eggs between the skillets and spread evenly on the bottoms. Arrange two slices of the French toast, slightly apart, in each skillet. Cook, shaking the skillets a little bit so the eggs don't stick, until the eggs on the bottom of the skillet sear and firm up, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Finish: Divide and spread the remaining butter on the tops of the 4 slices of French toast. Slide a spatula underneath the eggs and flip everything over so the buttered French toast slices are now on the bottoms of the skillets. Season with salt. Layer on top of one piece of French toast per skillet with the cheese, ham and turkey. Slide the spatula under one slice of the French toast and fold it over the other so it looks like a sandwich! Repeat with the second skillet. Transfer the skillets to the oven until the cheese melts and the centers get hot, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the sandwiches to a cutting board and cut each in half. Serve two halves on each plate with maple syrup for drizzling and dunking.

MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• Preheat a griddle and deep fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the griddle. Dunk the Texas toast on both sides in the French Toast Custard and grill until golden brown. Flip and add 1 slice Swiss cheese to each slice of toast. Then add 3 ounces ham on top of 6 of the toast slices, then top the ham with another slice of Swiss cheese. Top each ham and cheese toast with a cheese only toast, to form 6 sandwiches. Cook until the cheese melts, then remove from griddle and cool. Dunk the cooled sandwiches in the pancake batter until fully covered and put into the fryer. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 8 minutes. Serve with the Strawberry-Rhubarb Syrup.
• Beat the eggs well, then add the sugar and mix until emulsified and all the sugar has dissolved. Add the milk and vanilla and whisk until combined.
• Add the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and maple syrup to a saucepot. Place over medium heat and cook until fruit is soft, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then carefully puree with a hand blender.

MONTE CRISTOS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, salad dressing and Dijon mustard; spread over 1 side of each slice of bread. On 4 slices, layer the turkey, ham and Swiss cheese; top with remaining bread. In a shallow bowl, combine the eggs, cream and ground mustard. Dip sandwiches in egg mixture., On a griddle or large skillet, melt butter. Toast sandwiches over medium heat until bread is golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve with preserves.

ULTIMATE MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• To make the Batter: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne, and salt.
• Whisk in the club soda and beer.
• The mixture should be the consistency of pancake batter.
• Refrigerate until you're ready to use it.
• To assemble the Sandwiches: Set half of the slices buttered side down, and cover with the cheese slices, folding them over if they extend past the edges.
• Layer the ham and turkey over the cheese, and spread the jam over the turkey.
• Place the top slice of bread on, buttered side up.
• Grill the sandwiches on both sides.
• Pour the oil into a deep heavy-duty saucepan to fill it halfway.
• Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C), measuring the temperature on a deep-fat thermometer.
• Cut the sandwiches on a diagonal into thirds, to make 9 triangular pieces.
• Stir the batter.
• Dip each sandwich piece into the batter, thoroughly coating it.
• Fry the pieces 2 or 3 at a time, being careful not to overcrowd them in the pan.
• Cook them for about 3 minutes on each side, until they're nicely browned, and transfer to a paper towel to drain.
• Allow the oil to come back up to temperature before you fry the next batch of sandwiches.
• Place the sandwiches on a platter.
• Sift a very heavy layer of powdered sugar over them, and serve with a side of jam.

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.

MONTE CRISTO BAKE

Steps:

• Trim 4 pieces of bread and put in the bottom of a 9 x 9 glass casserole.
• Evenly sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over the bread.
• Layer the turkey and ham evenly over the cheese.
• Evenly sprinkle the remaining cheese over the meat.
• Cover with the remaining pieces of bread.
• Beat together the eggs, milk, mustard, and onion powder, then pour over the bread.
• Press lightly on the bread with a fork, pushing down into the egg mixture.
• Cover and chill for 6 hours or overnight.
• Bake at 325 degrees F for 60 minutes or until the top and sides are golden.
• Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving, sprinkled with the powdered sugar.
• Serve with raspberry preserves on the side.

CLASSIC MONTE CRISTO

Steps:

• Spread mustard over one side of each bread slice; top two slices with cheese and turkey. Cover with remaining bread, mustard side down. In a shallow bowl, beat egg substitute and milk. Dip sandwiches in mixture, coating both sides., Heat a griddle coated with cooking spray; toast sandwiches until lightly browned on both sides. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve with apple butter.

MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread mustard on bread. Layer 4 bread slices with Swiss cheese, ham, and cheese again. Place remaining bread slices on top.
• In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture, turning to coat well.
• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. When butter is foamy, add the sandwiches, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Serve immediately, dusted with confectioners' sugar.