Monte Cristo With Orange And Rosemary Maple Syrup

• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1/8 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary, very finely minced
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• fresh ground black pepper
• 4 slices of brioche
• 6 thin slices of ham, turkey or both, cut to fit the bread
• 3/4 cup gruyere cheese, grated
• 2 egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons half and half
• 2 egg whites, whipped until stiff
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. In a small sauce pan combine the orange juice, zest, rosemary, maple syrup and pepper. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
2. Make two ham and cheese sandwiches with the bread, cheese and ham.
3. Combine the cream and the egg yolks in a flat container and whisk them together. Place the panko crumbs on a plate.
4. Dip one side of each sandwich into the egg yolk mixture and let it soak up some of the liquid. Flip the sandwich to soak the other side.
5. While it is soaking spread an even layer of the egg white across the top of the sandwiches and sprinkle with panko.
6. Turn the sandwiches out onto the panko, panko side down. Coat the uncoated side of the sandwich with egg white and then flip it again.
7. Place a nonstick skillet over medium heat and melt the butter in the pan. When it is bubbling add the sandwiches. Brown slowly so the interior gets warm and melty. Flip and brown the other side. Cut the sandwiches in half and plate them. Serve with hot syrup on the side.
8. As you can see it would be easy to make these in larger quantities. Heat the oven to 250 and brown them a little faster, put them on a sheet tray and let the oven finish cooking them while you are onto making other sandwiches.

fresh squeezed orange juice, orange zest, fresh rosemary, maple syrup, fresh ground black pepper, brioche, thin slices of ham, gruyere cheese, egg yolks, egg whites, bread crumbs, unsalted butter

Taken from food52.com/recipes/8164-monte-cristo-with-orange-and-rosemary-maple-syrup (may not work)