Monte Cristo Strata Recipes

MONTE CRISTO OMELET SANDWICH

Steps:

• Add the eggs, 1 tablespoon water and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Spread each cheese slice with 1/4 teaspoon of the Dijon and set the slices mustard-side-up on a flat surface. Put the confectioners' sugar in a small fine-mesh sieve set over a plate.
• Heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until melted and starting to brown around the edges of the pan. Add the egg mixture and swirl the pan to coat the bottom. Working quickly, dip 1 slice of the bread in the eggs, then flip the slice and place it so the top edge of the slice is near the edge of the pan furthest from you. Repeat with the remaining slice of bread, setting it across the pan from the first bread slice. The bottom edges of the two slices should be in a straight line, with eggs all around.
• Continue to cook the eggs until they are completely set on the bottom and mostly cooked on the top, 1 to 2 minutes more. Slide a large nonstick spatula under the bread and flip the whole omelet in one single motion. Set the cheese mustard-side up on top of the omelet, covering the bread. Lay the ham on top of one of the slices of cheese. Using the spatula, fold one side of the omelet (but not the bread side) over the cheese and ham, then fold over the other side. Fold in half so the bread slices meet and form a sandwich.
• Cook until the bread on the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is beginning to melt, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat if the bread begins to darken too quickly before the cheese melts. Flip and cook until the other side is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Set the sandwich on a plate and dust with the confectioners' sugar.

MONTE CRISTO STRATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Generously grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with shortening or cooking spray.
• Place layer of bread slices in bottom of baking dish. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the mustard. Top with half of the ham slices, then sprinkle with 1 cup of the shredded cheese and 1 tablespoon of the sage. Repeat layers, reserving last 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese.
• In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk, then add milk and ground pepper; beat to combine. Carefully and evenly pour egg mixture over layers in baking dish, making sure bread absorbs most of the liquid. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and 1 tablespoon fresh sage.
• Cover dish with sheet of greased foil. Let stand 30 minutes before baking.
• Bake about 35 minutes or until dish is baked through and bubbly. Remove foil, and bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese on top is lightly golden.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

SUNNY'S MONTE CRISTO BREAKFAST PLANK

Steps:

• For the bread: Using a serrated knife, make a rectangular block of the bread by slicing off the ends and leveling the top and bottom of the loaf. There should be no crust left. Slice the block in half lengthwise, making 2 planks.
• In a large bowl, whisk the heavy cream, chili powder, sriracha, eggs, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Pour the mixture into a wide flat dish, large enough to dunk the bread. Carefully dip each plank in the egg mixture, coating all sides.
• Heat a griddle over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the bread planks and cook on all sides until the batter is set and the bread is light golden, 4 to 5 minutes on each large side, and another 2 minutes for each edge.
• For the filling: While still on the griddle, spread the raspberry jam on the entire top of one plank. Top with 4 slices of Gruyere, then all of the ham and turkey, shredding the meat as you go. Then cover with the remaining 4 slices of Gruyere. Like Jeff Mauro says, "crust to crust is a must!" In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and mustard together. Spread this mixture on the top of the remaining plank and lay it, mayonnaise-side down, on the other topped plank. Put an overturned metal bowl over the sandwich and cook a few minutes more to melt the cheese.
• For the finish: Carefully remove to a baking sheet and allow to cool slightly. Dust with powdered sugar and use a serrated knife to cut 1 1/2-inch finger planks along the length. Serve with maple syrup to drizzle or dunk.

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 CRISTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread bread with mayonnaise and mustard. Alternate ham, Swiss and turkey slices on bread.
• Beat egg and milk in a small bowl. Coat the sandwich with the egg and milk mixture. Heat a greased skillet over medium heat, brown the sandwich on both sides. Serve hot.

MONTE CRISTO STRATA (NUWAVE-FLAVORWAVE OVENS)

Steps:

• In large Casserole baking dish, layer bottom with bread, one piece at a time to fill bottom of pan.
• Then add one layer of ham, when layer is complete add one slice of cheese until layer is complete. Repeat layers until casserole is up to casserole height (try to make sure last layer is with cheese.).
• Mix together: milk, Dijon, eggs, salt and pepper. Once mixed well, add to top of Strata making sure it is covered evenly. If there is excess on top, let drain into middle and side. (You can help this process.) The top will look soggy and the mixture will soak into the bread.
• The next morning, cook at HI for 10 minutes covered, then 1-15 minutes uncovered.
• Serve with strawberry jam.

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.

MONTE CRISTO STRATA

Steps:

• In large Casserole baking dish, layer bottom with bread, one piece at a time to fill bottom of pan.
• Then add one layer of ham, when layer is complete add one slice of cheese until layer is complete. Repeat layers until casserole is up to casserole height (try to make sure last layer is with cheese.).
• Mix together: milk, Dijon, eggs, salt and pepper. Once mixed well, add to top of Strata making sure it is covered evenly. If there is excess on top, let drain into middle and side. (You can help this process.) The top will look soggy and the mixture will soak into the bread.
• The next morning, cook at 350°F for 20 minutes covered, then 25 minutes uncovered.
• Serve with strawberry jam.

MONTE CRISTO STRATA

Steps:

• Spray a 9x13x2-inch baking pan with the non-stick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, hot sauce, and dry mustard until well blended.
• Arrange as much of the bread pieces as you can in a single layer in the prepared pan. Top, in layers, with the turkey, ham, and 1/2 of the cheese. Top with the remaining bread pieces, and pour on the egg mixture, tilting the pan to make sure all the bread is coated. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, when you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, take the strata out of the refrigerator, remove the plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature until the oven is ready. Bake until puffed and golden, about 45 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing into squares.