French-Toast Cheese Dreams are shallow-fried, egg-coated cheese sandwiches. Perfect for using up leftovers or the end of a loaf - and great for kids' teatime.
French-Toast Cheese Dreams
French-Toast Cheese Dreams were a staple of my childhood. We probably had them for tea every couple of weeks or so and they were always a favourite of mine. We called them Cheese Dreams because fried cheese sandwiches doesn't sound so great and, anyway, we didn't really eat sandwiches.
Why French-Toast?
The French-Toast part comes from coating the sandwich in beaten egg before frying. It's an ideal treatment for any leftover sandwiches, so if you've over-catered for a picnic or some other event, bring the spare sandwiches home and freeze them. Take out as many as you need for teatime, and defrost in the fridge overnight.
Butter or Mayonnaise in Sandwiches?
Or both? I have to say I'm a convert to using mayonnaise and no butter in my sandwiches. I prefer the taste and, while I really like butter, I'm not keen on it with most sandwich fillings. But it doesn't make any difference in this recipe, and you could leave it out entirely.
So if you're looking for a quick and nutritious tea for your children, try French-Toast Cheese Dreams. There's plenty of protein in the cheese and egg, fibre and slow-release carbs in the bread, and fat in the butter or mayonnaise. You don't need much oil or butter for frying - you could use a spray bottle if you're concerned about it. All you need to add are vegetables and salad is my preferred option here, such as sliced tomatoes.
If you like this...
Why don’t you try:
Sweetcorn Fritters
Chicken Rissoles
Breakfast Bake
Recipe
French-Toast Cheese Dreams
Ingredients
For the Cheese Sandwiches
- 2 slices wholemeal bread
- 2 slices cheese
- Chutney optional
- Butter or mayonnaise
To finish:
- 1 egg
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oil or butter for frying
Equipment
Instructions
- Make the sandwiches in your usual way
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan on a MEDIUM-HIGH heat
- Beat the egg in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper
- Cut each sandwich into quarters
- Soak the sandwiches in the beaten egg, pushing them into the egg so that both sides are coated and all the egg is absorbed
- Fry until the sandwiches are golden brown and the cheese is melting
- About 3 minutes on each side
- Serve immediately with salad
Notes
- Use any leftover sandwiches you have - they don't have to be cheese
Graham says
Hi iv'e always believed that French toast was two slices of bread buttered
the buttered sides are put together and toasted on both sides and the butter melted into the bread we always had them without fillings.
The other version was we dipped a slice of bread both sides in beaten egg until it was soaked and just fried. We called it Gypsies Toast.
It's what we had as children. In the 1950's
What you describe is like what i suppose they call a toasted club sandwich to day how things move on .
I did try them and enjoyed them
Susie Collings says
Hi Graham, We called these Cheese Dreams when I was a child. As you say, things move on. Glad you enjoyed them anyway 🙂