Monte Cristo Sandwiches (Recipe)

Ingredients

Margarine or butter, melted

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1/3 cup milk

12 slices sandwich bread

6 slices Swiss cheese, cut in half

Powdered sugar (optional)

Currant jelly (optional)

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 425°.  Using a pastry brush, generously grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with the melted margarine or butter.

2. In a shallow dish, combine the eggs and milk.

3. For each sandwich, over one slice of bread with a half slice of cheese, a slice of ham.  Then a second half slice of cheese.  Top with a second slice of bread.

4. Dip each sandwich in the egg-milk mixture, taking care to coat each of the bread slices.  Place the sandwiches in the prepared baking pan.  Bake in the 425° oven for 15 minutes, turning once.

5. Transfer the sandwiches to a warm serving dish.  If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with currant jelly.

Tips:

Choose a firm-textured white or whole wheat bread.  Both slices of the bread should be fairly well soaked in the egg-milk mixture so they remain soft beneath their crispy browned surfaces.

Another method of cooking these sandwiches is to grill them on a griddle or in a greased skillet.  This is a higher calorie option.

A thin slice of turkey can be added to the sandwich or substituted for the ham.

Spread the bread with Dijon-style mustard before adding the meat and cheese for a tangy variation.

Fresh fruit makes a tasty accompaniment to these sandwiches.