The best part of breakfast is when it can be eaten anytime of day and for just about any occasion. Like for a virtual baby shower for a waffle making queen who will soon bequeath us a mini waffle eating princess.
I bet that’s exactly the occasion you were planning for making Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwiches.
It’s really been 9 months already? Really? It truly seems like maybe a month ago when I drove to the airport to pick up Melissa, the exceptionally talented recipe creator/food blogger/designer behind the lens and in front of the oven at The Faux Martha.
She and a few moree food blogging friends were making their way to SLC for the blogging conference Alt Summit and we were setting up camp at my house. Sure we’d be hitting the conference, but we were all looking most forward to some quality after-conference time of dinners, cocktailing and the usual friendly merriment.
But Melissa had a secret to share, and she needed a confidante to help with her cover.
On the drive to my house from the airport she spilled the beans to me that she was pregnant.
Melissa was giddy with excitement but reluctant in making a full announcement because it was still a little early along. But since she was ‘with nugget’ she wouldn’t be participating in the merry-making and didn’t want to raise any eyebrows when passing on the partaking.
So we hatched a plan that resulted in a weekend of dodging questions and sharing knowing looks. Somehow we passed the watchful eyes of Kathryne, Erin, Jeanine and Kelsey with nary a second glance. I was honored to be in ‘the know.’
And now here she is with a bun in the oven that’s nearly fully baked. Soon it will be the best thing she’ll have ever made.
Thanks to Erin’s stealth coordination, several of us are joining in her celebration with this virtual baby shower to celebrate.
So why the waffle theme? Because if you’ve ever checked out Melissa’s Instagram feed, you’ll see that she is a waffle sensei and her whole wheat waffle recipe is pretty near perfection. In fact, she took over my kitchen and made a special batch for all of us Alt Summit-goers that weekend for Sunday brunch (you need to see it to believe it.) The girl knows her way around a patterned syrup catcher.
I took a little diversion from the rest of the virtual baby showering tribe in creating a waffle recipe. Instead of trying to improve upon Melissa’s version, I yielded to my back-to-school, gotta-get-food-on-the-table schedule and opted for the easy route.
My Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich is a great anytime treat thanks to frozen multi grain waffles slathered with raspberry jam and topped with honey baked ham that’s dipped into an eggy batter then cooked until the swiss cheese runs melty. Don’t be fooled by some of the mass market brands, this list of frozen waffles can be food for you too.
Do I even need to mention the sweetness of the dusting of powdered sugar for further enticement? I didn’t think so. Nor the added layer of jam on top. As if it wasn’t enough to have it smooshing out from the sides. Make it your own, it’s the fun part of cooking and eating.
Smudge couldn’t help herself and photo bombed my set and quickly made work of finishing off this sweet and savory treat. And who could blame her?
A few recipe variations to give a whirl:
Instead of the swiss cheese, gouda or other melty white cheese would make a great alternative.
Some regions include turkey breast along with the ham in their sandwiches. My Smudge is a ham queen so we skipped the turkey. She also isn’t a fan of mustard which is a traditional addition, so we left that out. Give yours a slather if you desire.
Blackberry, lingonberry or another wild berry jam would make the sandwich golden.
Take a look at the round-up of recipes from the rest of the party and join in the waffle making fun with a healthy whole foods theme and send a toasty toast to Melissa in honor of her big day.
Whole Wheat Chive Waffle with Poached Egg from Sonja and Alex of A Couple Cooks
Almond Chia Seed Waffles from Nicole of Eat this Poem
Banana Nut Waffles from Kathryne of Cookie and Kate
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Waffles from Alison of This Homemade Life
Yeasted Waffles with Berries and Cocoa Sugar from Kasey of Turntable Kitchen
Vanilla Vegan/Gluten Free Waffle Ice Cream Sammies from Laura of The First Mess
Whole Grain Vegan Flax Waffles from Jeanine of Love and Lemons
Waffles with fig Compote and Orange-honey Crème Fraîche from Sarah of The Vanilla Bean Blog
Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 whole grain toaster waffles
- ½ cup Swiss cheese , shredded
- ¼ pound shaved honey baked ham
- Raspberry jam
- ¼ pound shaved turkey , optional
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Top two toaster waffles with some shredded cheese, then a handful of ham (and optional turkey) and then more cheese. Slather the other two toaster waffles with raspberry jam and use as a top to the cheese topped waffles.
- Bring a frying pan to medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in it.
- Whisk the eggs and milk together in a shallow bowl.
- Dredge one sandwich in the egg batter then place in the frying pan. Top with a cover and cook until the sandwich is browned, flip and cook the other side until the cheese is melted. Repeat the process with the additional butter and other sandwich and serve immediately.
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I’ve loved Monte Cristo sandwiches since I was a kid (and that was MANY years ago). A small local restaurant we’d eat at had the best ones, and I’ve found myself comparing every one I’ve eaten since to those. The majority of restaurants these days don’t make them, and even those that do typically don’t get them right. I like the ham and turkey combination, and it HAS to be real Swiss cheese (not those so-called Swiss cheese slices that are to Swiss cheese what American cheese is to cheddar). I usually don’t put the preserves in the sandwich but do serve on the side. And I always have at least one jar of the IKEA lingonberry preserves, so I go with those. I’m definitely going to have to make this variation of my favorite sandwich!
Looks good, my child would have loved these recipe. I liked jam or jelly with ham.
Im just putting together my weekend menu. I actually have time to cook this weekend and try new things and make something awesome. What perfect timing to stumble upon this treasure! I can’t wait to get this in my belly!
Oh my goodness.
Um, are you KIDDING ME?!? Monte Cristo WAFFLE sandwich?!? Honestly, I could eat this every day for the rest of my life. But, it would be better if you delivered them. ;) Gorgeous!
Yum diggity! I must confess, I’m sold on this recipe because it uses frozen waffles- one of my favorite “cheat” foods of all time! The jam, the ham…. it’s all gorgeous!!
Loved reading this, Heidi. Such a great story. And I love your waffles sandwich! What a great idea.
I spy some awesome hand modeling… and an eating model too! I need one of those!
With nugget! Waffle sensei! You’re making me giggle, Heidi. Such perfect phrases to describe Melissa. You two sure kept her secret under wraps! Those mocktails fooled me.
Oh my gosh this looks so good… drooling
What an amazing sandwich! Gotta make this soon! :)
I know, how was that already 9 months ago! Can’t believe you were in on the secret and no one else figured it out :)
Amazing photos – Wherever did you get that napkin from? :)
This sandwich is just mind-blowingly awesome! And that story? Absolutely adorable. That will be a fun story for you to tell her little nugget someday!
These waffle sandwiches look incredible (and that’s coming from a pancake girl!).
This. Is. Gorgeous. Simply amazing.
Awww.. love reading about the friendships you guys share. And now, I’m off to continue drooling over this sandwich. Insane, and GOOD!
Oyyyyyyyy, you’re insane- in a good way- I’ve only ever had a monte christo at Disneyland and it was mighty fine. It’s lunchtime here and I have to get away from this sandwich!!
What a lovely virtual shower and what a sweet, savory, deeeee-licious sandwich! I love the idea of using waffles to sandwich the classic goodness that is the Monte Cristo!
Like Whoa!! This is everything a waffle sandwich should be and sooo much more… Love it!
Loved reading this little story ALMOST as much as I love these waffle sandwiches… I really love waffles! Cannot wait to make these over the weekend – we have 10 people staying with us in our tiny apartment, so I think these will make everyone a little more cozy ;) xo
Wow, beyond gorgeous!! Had no idea some states include turkey. What a great idea…I will be dreaming of this all day…
A waffle virtual baby shower?! Brilliant. And now I’ve got a waffle hankering I’ve got to go remedy…
I am loving this link up on waffles. I am so psyched about my new waffle pan coming to try these!
Those look amazing!
This looks AH-MAZING. Love it all! Happy virtual shower the Faux Martha! :)
Loved getting to share my secret with you early! And thank you for the mock-tini’s that made my plight a little more bearable. I hate missing out on the party.You are too too kind for not sharing the part of the story where I told you I was flying in a day earlier than my ticket stated, sending you to the airport twice. I still owe you a million times over! So thankful this blogging world brought us together. I’m ready to move in with you when you’re ready:). This Monte Cristo looks incredible. My better half will be in heaven when I make this for him. So, so much love to you Heidi! xoxoxo
Ha, I love the subterfuge of the two of you hiding that she was pregnant. I once had to do it for my boss and it was really quite hilarious! This waffle sandwich looks over the top delicious too.
Yummy !! And so happy to know that Melissa will soon be cradling a little girl !!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
SO excited for Melissa, and basically crying over this waffle sandwich.
These are AMAZING. I just recently pulled out the waffle iron, so these are going on the list of I need to make.
You know, I don’t have a waffle iron? Then again, I may have one, a cast-iron one buried beneath all of the kitchen supply equipment in my kitchen. But I want to make one now! Or at minimum, eat one with bits of ham, cheese and whole raspberries cooked in it…