Monte Cristo Sandwich
Yield: 4 sandwiches (don't bother thinking you'll share these.. LOL they are THAT good no seriously... this is one of my favorite recipes!)
A decadent stack of turkey, ham and Swiss cheese in battered egg bread, fried golden. Don't forget to dip this gorgeous concoction in the Blackberry preserves because you'd be a fool to forgoe the decadence that follows.
Ingredients
1 egg
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 slices egg bread (challah works well), sliced 1/2 thick
8 thin slices ham
8 thin slices turkey
8 thin slices swiss cheese
3 cups canola oil
confectioners' sugar
blackberry preserves
Instructions
Line a cookie sheet with paper towels;set aside.
Whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl.
Add flour, salt, and baking powder and whisk thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes, or until smooth, scraping side of bowl.
On one slice of bread, arrange 2 slices of ham, turkey, and cheese, covering the bread evenly.
Place another slice of bread on top and slice each sandwich in half diagonally.
Heat oil between 365 and 375 in a 10-inch pan.
Do not let the oil reach a higher temperature than this; if the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down.
Dip half of the sandwich into the batter, allowing excess to drain, and very carefully place into the oil.
Repeat with the other sandwich half.
Cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Place the cooked sandwich on the prepared cookie sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve.
Repeat with the other three sanwiches.
Cook one at a time, and allow the oil to reach the desired temperature between each.
Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.
