Saturday, June 30, 2007

Monte Cristo

montechristo

I got a really nice cookbook for my birthday - Brunch, by Marc Myers of the Five Points restaurant. It has some great recipes, and we're having lots of fun trying them out on weekends. Per made this Monte Cristo sandwich for me, and it was super delicious! It's basically french toast, but with ham and cheese in between, and served with jam. (Homemade strawberry-raspberry preserves!)

Monte Cristo
Serves 2

250 ml milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
butter for frying
4 thick slices tasty bread (we used a white sourdough)
4 slices of ham
4-6 slices of cheese

jam, to serve

Beat eggs with milk, vanilla and cinnamon and place in a wide, shallow dish. Heat one - or preferrably two - large frying pans and melt some butter in them. When the butter sizzles, dip the bread briefly into the batter, and then fry. Cook on medium heat until golden brown, on both sides.

Preheat the broiler or your oven's grill setting. Place the ham and cheese on two of the slices and place under the broiler until the cheese has melted and is bubbling. Top with the remaining pieces of french toast, and serve with a little jam.

Recipe in Swedish:
Monte Cristo

12 comments:

Nikki said...

Sorry to hear about all your traveling troubles! That would make anyone grouchy. :)

Meanwhile, I'm thrilled to see this Monte Cristo recipe and will be trying it soon. It's a favorite of mine that I've never tried to make myself. Y'all make it look+sound easy! Thanks.

Jessica said...

In this book I haven't used much I found a recipe for breakfast toast that used a custardy like creamcheese with tiny chocolate pieces.
I am not going to make it. If I do I will just be soooo hooked ;).
I love cinnamon toast as an everyday thing.

Isle Dance said...

For an extra sweet twist, one can top it with sprinkled powdered sugar...lightly or thick!

Wendy said...

I love cheese and jam sandwiches. Cheese and jam AND ham I have never ever considered. Will be trying this.

test it comm said...

This sounds interesting. A cross between a ham and cheese sandwich and french toast with jam! I will have to try this. The strawberry jam that I made a while ago should go well with this.

Wunx~ said...

I love Monte Cristo sandwiches. I usually make them after Thanksgiving (USA) with leftover turkey breast along with the ham and swiss cheese and without the jam or powdered sugar. Definitely a brunch item as they will satisfy you for both breakfast and lunch.

Anonymous said...

I love those! Thanks for sharing!

drNO said...

was blog-hopping.
Just found ur blog...very interesting, sure to visit again.

Jeanne said...

Oooo, Monte Cristos! I had these for the first time in the US last year and fell in love. Sinfully delicious, and I adore the sweet/savoury thing!

Nikki said...

We've had this twice now and it SO good. Thanks for reminding me of that.

Actually, the best ever IMHO is when the sandwich is dipped in batter and deep-fried, but that's from the old not-so-healthy days. This is MUCH better.

I served it with my husband's blueberry jam made from the blueberries he picked right here in our forest. Yum!

BunBun4life said...

Can you see if you can find one of the Monte Cristo recepts that has the batter on the outside and is deep fried?

The reason I ask is because if you did it I would know it would be good. lmao Thanks.

Anne said...

Ooh. I don't know about that! Sounds a little TOO unhealthy, even for me :) Delicious, I'm sure!