Carrie's Modern Monte Cristo Sandwich

 A  modern healthier version of a classic sandwich.

(A fancy grilled ham & cheese)

Ingredients:
4 slices of multi-grain bread
6 slices thin sliced Black Forest Ham (Non GMO, Hormone & Nitrate Free)
3 slices Muenster cheese
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 eggs
1/8 cup (2 tablespoons)  half & half, milk, cream, or evaporated milk
powdered sugar (optional)
strawberry jam (Optional)

Method:
Ham slices are often packed in water, so pat the slices between a couple of paper towels. Fold each slice of ham in half. Cut one slice of cheese in half. Place two folded ham slices on top of one slice of bread. Top ham with 1 1/2 slices of cheese. Top cheese with one more slice of folded ham and one slice of bread. Repeat with remaining bread, ham and cheese. Beat eggs and half & half until well blended. Place a large frying pan on medium/low to medium heat. Add butter and olive oil. Pour beaten eggs into a shallow pan. Quickly dip both sides of assembled sandwiches into egg mixture. (Long enough to moisten the bread, but not so long to make the bread soggy.) Place sandwiches in preheated frying pan. Cook until bread touching the pan is golden brown. Turn the sandwiches over and cook until the uncooked side is golden brown. Remove sandwiches from pan. Cut in half. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar. Garnish with strawberry jam. (If using a frying pan that only fits one sandwich, use one tablespoon of butter and olive oil for each sandwich.)

Fresh Multi-grain Bread from Boudin Bakery

Sliced Muenster Cheese & All Natural Black Forest Ham

Notes: A traditional Monte Cristo sandwich is made with white bread, ham and Swiss cheese. My version is made with fresh multi-grain bread, all natural, nitrate free ham and a milder, creamy Muenster cheese. Traditionally the sandwich is dusted with powdered sugar and served with strawberry jam. 
When I described the sandwich to my husband Greg, he was skeptical about trying it. (Before we married, he had never had bread dipped in egg, that wasn't soggy.) Until this sandwich, he had never tasted Muenster cheese and he thought he didn't like strawberry jam. He was very pleasantly surprised at how delicious a Monte Cristo sandwich is!