As faithful readers will know… I’m not against little cheats – especially if they produce big returns! I’ve just been tweaked to a new technique that can ‘newstalg-ise’ an endless list of ‘legacy’ daily-fave dishes while saving time and cash…
No, this one did not come directly off the label of a cannister of Pilsbury refrigerated Pizza Dough. But it might have, if the Pilsbury testing kitchcn wasn’t so ‘classically contemporary’ (i.e.- stodgy) in outlook.
Again – as many of the ‘great technique’ finds I present here often are – this one is less a specific recipe than a door to your imagination that could swing open for you to reveal the next Great Trend in foward-looking dining…
I could feel my eyeballs trying to push their way out their sockets the instant the source story for today’s how-to post appeared on my screen.
So simple…
Whatever else you say about this ‘cheat’, it’s definitely an inspirational expression of an ancient and beloved food form. I refer to the universally-beloved Cinnamon Roll technique.
But this one is a swavoury presentation guaranteed to impress your breakfast audience next time someone special stays overnight on short notice… (*WINK*)
So elegant…
Yes, elegant – right down to its official name: The Monte Cristo Roll.
As the name implies, it layers authentic Monte Cristo Sandwich ingredients – Deli Ham, Deli Turkey, Swiss Cheese and Dijon Mustard – with ready-to-bake pizza dough to produce a beautiful looking, gorgeous tasting treat you can dip in Maple Syrup and eat with your hands – or smother with sweetness and eat with a knife and fork, as the occasion suggests.
So adaptable…
Here’s where your imagination comes in! I immediately thought how great this technique would be if you simply swapped out the Monte Cristo ingredients in favour of Sloppy Joe’s filling. Or Lasagna filling. Or Chili con Carne (Tex Mex Chili)…
My take
I know some of you are just waiting to pounce… Me? Recommend using pre-made supermarket dough? One of the first things my principle culinary school lab instructor taught the the class was, “Nobody makes their own puff pastry these days!” Nevertheless, we did learn to make it in ‘Intro-duction to Baking and Pastry’, down the hall…
Be that as it may… This ‘tip’ is what I call a ‘legal cheat’. That is, the pros say it’s okay, especially when time is of the essence.
You may counter, “Yes, but what’s legal isn’t always ‘right’.” To that I say: Would you ever even con-sider making this dish if you had to plan/start it the day before?
~ Maggie J.