Monte Cristo Sandwich, healthier version

• Monte Cristo Sandwich

butter in pan for frying

2/3 cup water
1 egg
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 slices white bread
4 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices turkey
4 slices ham
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar for dusting

berry preserves to dip (optional)

Directions

1. Make the batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper; whisk into the egg mixture until smooth. Set aside in the refrigerator.
2. Assemble sandwiches by placing one slice of turkey on one slice of bread, a slice of ham on another, then sandwich them with the Swiss cheese in the middle. Cut sandwiches into quarters, and secure with toothpicks.
3. Dip each sandwich quarter in the batter so that all sides are coated.  Fry in a pan with enough butter to keep from sticking.  Cook until golden brown on all sides. Remove toothpicks and arrange on a serving tray. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving. Serve with favorite berry preserves. 

I haven't had one of these famed sandwiches served in Disneyland, but I have heard enough rave reviews that we had to try them.  Were they loved at my house for dinner?  No question- they had powdered sugar on them after all!   

Easy summer wrap/picnic idea

• 
  
• Party Pinwheels, or Turkey Cream Cheese Wraps
• (from allrecipes.com) 
• 
  
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
• 2 green onions, minced
• 4 (12 inch) flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• deli turkey (optional- if you want a meal, not appetizer)

Directions

1. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and green onions. Spread this mixture on each tortilla. Sprinkle red pepper, celery, black olives, and cheese (if you'd like) over the cream cheese mixture. Roll up the tortillas, then wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
2. Chill 2 hours or overnight. Cut off ends of the rolls, and slice the chilled rolls into 1 inch slices.

These are addictive little snacks!  You can also make them an easy picnic/summer meal by not cutting them up and making individual wraps.  You can use chive and onion cream cheese too, to save time. Use whatever veggies you like or have on hand. Very versatile and easy!

A nice summer wrap!

Roast Beef Coleslaw Wraps

• uncooked tortillas (my preference but use your favorite)
• coleslaw 
• coleslaw dressing (Kraft makes one)
• deli roast beef
• pickles, yellow peppers, onions (optional but recommended!)

Of course, cook your tortillas, then add roast beef, coleslaw with dressing, and any extras.  Enjoy!

I think these make a great, quick lunch or dinner!  Easy, fast, no oven....exactly what you're looking for in the HOT summer!  

Apricot Turkey Pinwheels

Apricot Turkey Pinwheels
(from Taste of Home magazine)

• 1 can Pillsbury Simply French Bread (or crescent roll sheets or puff pastry or pizza dough)
• 1/4 c. apricot preserves
• 1/2 t. ground mustard
• 1/4 lb. deli turkey
• 1/2 c. monterey jack cheese (I used pepper jack)

Spread preserves on rolled out dough. Sprinkle with mustard and then layer with turkey and cheese. Roll up jelly roll style. Cut into 16 slices (or how big you want it). Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until browned.


I thought this was a great snack/meal! If you want to make it a meal you may need 2 cans. I loved the Simply French bread because it didn't have that canned flavor the crescent rolls have. But any dough would be good. I cooked it before cutting it and it worked well that way too.  I love that little taste of sweet with a little spice!

Ham and Tortilla Roll-Ups

R's family's Ham and Tortilla Roll-Ups

• 8 tortillas
• deli ham
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can green chiles (I always skip)
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 c. butter
  
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1/4 t. mustard
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 dash seasoning salt

1. Make the white sauce by combining milk, butter, flour, mustard and salts. Stir with whisk and cook over medium heat until thickened, about 10 minutes.
2. On each tortilla, layer a few slices of ham, then a couple tablespoons of white sauce, and some grated cheese. Roll up and place in greased 13 by 9 pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
3. Cover with any remaining sauce and cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

This is a recipe that I always enjoy. It's fast, different, and the kids like it too!

A fun take on ham&cheese

Ham & Swiss Sliders
(ourrecipeclub.blogspot.com)

• 24 good white rolls
  
• 24 pieces good honey ham
• 24 small slices swiss cheese
  
• 1/3 mayo
• 1/3 cup miracle whip

Poppyseed Sauce

• 1 1/2 TBSP poppy seeds
• 1 1/2 TBSP yellow mustard
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 TBSP minced onion
• 1/2 tsp. worschestershire sauce

1. In a small bowl, mix together mayo & miracle whip. Spread into both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham & a slice of swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls & place into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet, placing very close together.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. Let sit 10 minutes, or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil & bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover & cook for 2 additional minutes. Serve warm.
3. Sandwiches can me assembled a day ahead & kept in the fridge ready to bake.

These were tasty! Mine doesn't look so great because I made my own rolls and I burned them, so I had to use them upside down. Next time to save time I'll just buy some good soft rolls.

Fun, quick, and dippable!

Pizza Pinwheels
(allrecipes.com)

• 1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 24 slices pepperoni, chopped
  
• 1 (14 ounce) can pizza sauce

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. On a large baking sheet, pinch the 8 crescent roll dough triangles into 4 rectangles. Seal really well!! Layer each rectangle with a couple teaspoons of the chopped pepperoni and even amounts of mozzarella cheese. Roll tightly lengthwise and slice each into 4 or more pieces.
3. 
4. Roll should look like this before slicing into 4 pieces.
   
5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
   
6. Serve with pizza sauce or ranch for dipping.

We thought these were fun and easy! We don't like pepperoni so I just chopped up some turkey deli meat and used a couple teaspoons on each roll-up, along with a couple T cheese (ham would be great, too). You have to be careful not to over-fill, or log will be messy. These are great for a lighter main dish or a fun appetizer/after-school snack. To make rolls easier to work with, freeze can or crescent rolls 15 minutes before working with them.

A festive meal

Mummy Dogs
(click here to see cute picture and recipe at pillsbury)

• 1 can crescent rolls
• 8 hotdogs
• 2 squares American cheese, sliced into 8 strips (optional)

1. Heat oven to 375.
2. Roll out crescents from can, making 4 rectangles by sealing 2 rolls together.
3. Cut into long strips, about 4 each rectangle. (supposedly you can get 40 but I did what was easiest)
4. Wrap a piece of cheese around the hotdog, then 2 strips of dough. Make it like a mummy if you are fun but just twist it around if you are like me.
5. Place on pan sprayed with cooking spray and cook for about 10 minutes or until rolls are cooked. Mine cooked pretty fast!
6. Add mustard for eyes and mouth.

Not the healthiest meal but very fun and I thought they tasted good too! Nothing like processed rolls, dogs, and cheese....every once in a while, right?

Turkey Salad Crescents

Turkey Salad Crescent Rolls

• 2 tubes crescents
• 1/3 c. craisins
• 1/4 c. chopped celery (optional)
  
• 1/4. c. mayo
• 2 t. dijon mustard
• 1/2 c. cheese
• 1 1/2 c. turkey lunch meat (or real) ripped up

1. Combine all ingredients.
   
2. Take out the crescents, leaving them in square form (seal two triangles).
   
3. Place a big spoonful of the mixture and roll up, sealing all edges.
   
4. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

"You put craisins in here?" was Russell's comment. I loved them! These are good with or without craisins. I also like adding tomato pieces and red onion.