Elegant Ham and Cheese Sandwich

I would have to say that for a very simple dish of simple ingredients this was good enough for a company brunch, say, Mother's Day or even Father's Day. It can be assembled up to two days before the actual eating day and if you need too, it can be baked and reheated quite successfully.
There is enough butter in the croissants to keep the dish hydrated enough to handle two baking's.

When croissants are on sale I like to make French Toast but I always have more than enough leftover and I thought this dish would be a nice and different way to use them. I used both Swiss and Brie and the last minute addition of a sliced fruit was inspired from that all-loving, over abused appetizer, Baked Brie en Croute. What else is a croissant but a creation of puff pastry?

Toasted croissants layered with thin slices of lean smoked ham, thin slices of crunchy apples, Swiss and Brie cheeses and topped with toasted sliced almonds. This was one of those dishes that The Nudge looked at skeptically and once tasted gets this smile on his face that says "Hey, this isn't so bad, it's actually really good and he goes in for seconds." Light but filling, I would not think twice about making this again. Requires no special knife skills and except for slicing the croissants in half and slicing the apples, it is all about assembling bought ingredients.

Also a great quick weekday meal with a hundred different combinations. No croissants? Sandwich bread will work in a pinch and cinnamon & raisin bread, genius!

Elegant Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
makes 8 servings
* 4 croissants, sliced in half horizontally
* 16 thin slices of a lean smoked or country ham
* 1 wedge of Brie cheese, crust removed & sliced
* 8 slices of Lite Jarlsburg cheese
* 1 apple, cored, peeled and sliced thin on a mandoline
* 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1. Lay sliced croissants crust side down on a large sheet pan covered with parchment paper or foil.
2. Preheat oven to 350°. Toast bread for 5 minutes and remove.
3. Place ham, apple slices, Swiss, Brie and almonds in even layers over croissants.
4. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts and bubbles.
5. Cut into squares and serve with mustard's and fruit jams.