Monte Cristo

This is a really good twist on the traditional grilled ham and cheese.  The onion rings are a sweet compliment to the sour and savory mustard. 

8 slices of brioche bread (about 1/4-inch thick)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup Creole or whole grain mustard

16 thin slices of honey maple ham

12 thin slices of Swiss cheese

2 large eggs

1/4 cup heavy cream

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 medium red onions, marinated in hot sauce, dredged in flour and fried until golden brown and seasoned with Tony Cahchere's.  Recipe can be found here: Sweet Onion Rings

Brush one side of each piece of brioche with butter. Spread the other half with mustard. On four slices of bread, mustard side up, lay a piece of cheese. Place four slices of ham on top of the cheese. Layer a few onion rings over ham.  Lay a piece of cheese over the onion rings. Top each pile with the remaining bread, mustard side down. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and cream together. Season with salt and pepper. Dip sandwiches in the egg mixture and place 2  sandwiches on a hot skillet with melted butter and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and the cheese has melted.  Fry the remaining sandwiches adding more butter as necessary.

Slice the sandwiches in half and serve with the remaining fried onion rings.