Today I am very excited to introduce a guest to you, Kristen from A Mind “Full” Mom. Kristen is a new member of my Creative Team, and she is known for her budget friendly and health conscious recipes. The recipe she is sharing with us today is perfect for your leftover ham from Easter! I hope you will stop over and visit her at her blog, and follow her on social media as well. I think you are going to really like what you find over at her place!
Sweet and perfection in a sandwich! This Monte Cristo with Fresh Blackberry Sauce makes a perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner. And in my opinion, this is the BEST way to use up leftover ham.
Hey there Dish of Daily Life readers! I am Kristen from A Mind “Full” Mom and today it is all about a sandwich for me.
But NOT just any sandwich. Nope, this “sandwich” is sweet, salty, and perfect for any meal of the day, including a late night snack.
[contextly_sidebar id=”29w9KPjCeTXj1q5qKxHwAy7IRFY4ecIW”]I am combining a ham sandwich with french toast!! Yes indeed!
“Monte Cristo” is the name given to a ham and cheese (sometimes ham, turkey, and cheese) sandwich dipped in a egg custard and fried. My take on a “Monte Cristo,” is well, pretty spectacular.
Monte Cristo with Fresh Blackberry Sauce
I start with 2 pieces of whole wheat bread and layer that with ham and swiss cheese, along with a smear of Dijon mustard. The mustard is not traditional, but the tang that the mustard provides is a perfect balance to the sweetness of the dish.
After assembling the sandwiches, I make a simple egg custard (like you would for french toast) with eggs, milk, fresh nutmeg, salt, and a dash of maple syrup.
Melt some butter in a skillet and once your sandwich has been dipped into the custard, pan fry it just as you would french toast.
But then the kicker comes in when you top this sandwich–not with just maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar. Not for this masterpiece–I am topping this sandwich with a fresh blackberry maple sauce (and a light dusting of powdered sugar–just for the looks.)
Let me tell you that once you have sunk your teeth into this concoction, your taste buds will be spinning! The sharpness from the Swiss, the tang from the mustard, and the savoriness of the ham all wrapped up in the heartiness of whole grain bread and then finished with a burst of fresh blackberries that’s natural sweetness has been highlighted with pure maple syrup.
Is it breakfast? Is it lunch? Is it dinner? Is a sandwich or is it French Toast? I don’t know. I don’t care! It tastes good and that is all that matters!
Yields 4
10 minPrep Time
15 minCook Time
25 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 6 oz fresh blackberries
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 8 slice whole wheat bread
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 8 oz ham, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon butter
- powdered sugar, optional (for dusting)
Instructions
- For Blackberry Sauce:
- Combine berries, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and lemon juice in small sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer. Let simmer until berries only begin to slightly break down, only about 5 minutes.
- For Sandwiches:
- Spread 4 slices of bread with Dijon mustard. Layer the remaining 4 slices of bread with the ham and cheese, dividing ham and cheese evenly. Place slice of bread that has been spread with mustard on top of slice with ham and cheese--making four sandwiches.
- Heat butter in large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, nutmeg and remaining maple syrup. Dip each sandwich into egg mixture, flipping to coat on both sides of the sandwich.
- Place each sandwich in melted butter in skillet, and pan fry on each side until golden--about 5 minutes per side.
- To serve:
- Place one sandwich on a serving plate, dust with powdered sugar, if using. And divide the blackberry sauce evenly between the sandwiches.
Now I would love to know, What is your favorite way to use up leftover ham?
I’m Kristen, a wife, mom, friend, and creative mind behind A Mind “Full” Mom. I reside in Atlanta, Georgia with my husband, 2 children, and one cuddly puppy. It is my goal to stop and truly be intentional about eating wholesomely, being present for my family, and staying on budget. My hope is through my ideas you can find inspiration to keep your mind “full” of ways to make your life easier while not forgetting what matters most–your family.
The post Monte Cristo with Fresh Blackberry Sauce appeared first on A Dish of Daily Life.