Monte Cristo

It's Monday. Again. How does that happen so quickly? I didn't do anything too exciting over the weekend, just tried to regain some sanity.  I attempt to accomplish this by cleaning and organizing.  I know, weird right?  But I have found that my stress level increases in direct proportion with the increase in clutter.  Anyway, working on getting everything straight.  Especially since my girls are back in school - there are papers to keep up with, fundraisers to keep track of (fundraisers. ALREADY. Don't get me started on that one!)  Anyone want to buy wrapping paper?! 

I also like to relieve stress with a little retail therapy!!  It's probably not cheaper than a therapist, but way more fun.  This weekend was the Gap Give and Get Program - they allowed you to choose a non-profit (I, of course, chose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and then you could shop at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic - save 30% on your purchases, and they would donate 5% to the non-profit you chose.  It rocks.  I posted about it earlier, so if you missed it, well, you missed it.  Because it's over.  So anyway, I went shopping at Old Navy.  Found lots of cute t-shirts and such for me and the kids.  Nothing for hubs.  Sorry honey.  XXLT is not a size to be found easily (or at all) at the Old Navy.

And next to shopping, my favorite way to relieve stress is drinking eating! I know, so not healthy.  Emotional eating is a whole other post.  To be done by someone other than me.  Because I want to share my eating.  And these are worth sharing......Monte Cristo Sammies!!  My sis came over for dinner, and fixed these awesome sandwiches. 

sis, cooking in cute outfit

making these!

They were awesome!

The original recipe is from Rachel Ray -

We changed it up a little to suit our taste buds

8 slices center cut or apple wood smoked bacon
4 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup half-and-half  we used skim milk
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg or ground
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter  we skipped the butta
8 thick cut sliced whole-grain soft bread, white, or challah  we used Focaccia
1/2 cup brown mustard
1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
1/2 pound sliced Havarti cheese  we used sharp cheddar, b/c Havarti has WAY mo' fat!
1 pound sliced ham
1 pound sliced turkey breast
1 1/2 cups medium to dark amber maple syrup  we skipped the syrup, not a huge fan

Directions

Heat a griddle pan or large skillet over medium high heat. Cook bacon and remove to paper towels to drain, 5 minutes. Drain off fat. Reheat griddle over medium heat. Make sandwiches in 2 batches. (We made 3 sandwiches, all on a large griddle)
Beat eggs with half-and-half milk, nutmeg and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the griddle or pan and melt. Spray griddle with non-stick spray. Turn 4 slices bread in batter, then add to griddle or pan. Turn bread after it browns, 2 to 3 minutes. Top 2 bread slices with mustard, the other 2 with cranberry sauce. Add 1 or 2 slices of cheese and bacon on the cranberry covered bread. Add ham, then turkey to the mustard covered bread. Use a spatula to assemble 2 sandwiches and turn and press gently to set sandwiches in place. Repeat to make 2 more sandwiches. Cut sandwiches from corner to corner.
Heat syrup in microwave safe container for 30 seconds. Drizzle syrup over sandwiches at the table.  They were delicious without the syrup, but it's a personal preference.  We had a sweet and savory going on with the cranberry sauce and herbed focaccia.  mmmm.  For the kids...they basically had toasted ham and cheese.  bor-ring.

Linking up at Eat at Home