Cheese Sandwich Soufflé is easy weeknight meal
One time many years ago, I was riffling through my grandmother Ruth's box of handwritten recipe cards when I pulled up short at the sight of the title of this recipe for Cheese Sandwich Soufflé. Soufflé? Fancy! But reading the details, I quickly understood that this item was nothing more or less than the wedding of a ham-and-cheese sandwich and some French toast.
But that didn't make it a souffle. It required no separating of eggs, nor any beating of egg whites. Once I actually made the recipe, however, the title didn't seem like such a stretch. Fresh out of the oven, these sandwiches have puffed up in a very soufflé-ish way. Similarly, they boast the moistness and airiness of a soufflé.
But what I especially loved about the recipe was how ridiculously easy it is to prepare, making it the ideal candidate for a weeknight meal. (Huh? A sandwich for supper? Yes. Eggs for supper? Indeed.)
Preparing this dish is so simple, you ought to consider inviting your kids to help. But whether or not the kids lend a hand, this sandwich will be even more attractive once the school year — and the hectic dinnertime grind — kicks in. Just know that you'll have to plan ahead a bit; the sandwiches need to soak in the egg/milk mixture for a full hour before you pop them into the oven.
This recipe can be customized in all sorts of ways. You can swap out the ham for smoked turkey, prosciutto or your meat of choice. You can lose the Gruyère in favor of provolone, cheddar, mozzarella, or your favorite cheese.
Vegetarians in the family? Say goodbye to the meat and hello to a hearty vegetable like grilled eggplant or sautéed Portobello mushrooms.
Want to make a slimmer version? Use low-fat cheese and nonfat milk.
However you roll, all you'll need to flesh out the meal is a side salad or vegetable. These sandwiches are plenty hearty.
Start to finish: 2 hours (15 minutes active)Servings: 4Butter for buttering the baking pan8 slices homemade-style white or whole-wheat bread, crusts removed¼ pound thinly sliced cheese (for example, Gruyère, cheddar, provolone, mozzarella)2 ounces thinly sliced boiled ham, prosciutto or smoked turkey3 large eggs¼ teaspoon table salt2 cups whole milkIn a lightly buttered 8-inch-square baking dish, arrange 4 slices of the bread flat on the bottom, trimming the slices if necessary to fit snugly in one layer.Cover each slice with one-fourth of the cheese and one-fourth of the meat and then top each one with another slice of bread to form a sandwich.In a bowl beat the eggs lightly with the salt, add the milk and beat until combined well.Pour the mixture over the sandwiches, cover and chill 1 hour.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the sandwiches on the middle shelf of the oven uncovered until they are browned around the edges and just set in the center, about 40 to 45 minutes.Transfer a baked sandwich to each of 4 plates and serve right away.
