Monte Cristo Casserole

This isn't just for breakfast. This is a great pub night meal as well.

Ingredients:

8 slices of lightly toasted bread with crusts removed

10 slices of uncured ham

1 ½ cups of shredded Swiss cheese

8 large eggs

1 cup of whole milk

2 tbsp of maple syrup

1 tsp of Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

When you are ready to cook the casserole, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and coat an 8X8 by 3-inch-deep Pyrex dish with butter.

Arrange 4 slices of the bread on the bottom of the dish.  Top with 5 slices of ham and then half of the cheese (about 6 ounces).

Pour half of the egg mixture (2 cups) on top. 

Add the remaining 4 slices of the bread and top with the remaining ham and cheese.

Top with the remaining egg mixture.

Place the prepared casserole covered with foil in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 1 hours.

Remove casserole from the fridge for

30 minutes before baking while the oven heats up to 350 degrees.

Once the oven is ready, place the casserole in the oven for 30 minutes.  Remove the foil after it has cooked for 30 minutes and remove the foil.  Cook for an additional 15 minutes.  Leaving the oven rack on the same lower rack, turn the oven onto broil and broil for an additional 3-5 minutes or until slightly browned on top.  Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.