Double-Berry Shortcakes

Lay one slice of bread on the work surface. Use a table knife to spread it with the cream cheese and then a thin layer of strawberry jam. Top with the second slice of bread to make it a sandwich.

Break the egg into a shallow bowl. Add the milk and beat with a fork. Using both hands, carefully pick up the sandwich and put it in the bowl holding the egg mixture. Let the sandwich sit until the bottom piece of bread absorbs some of the egg mixture. Carefully turn the sandwich over and let the other side absorb some egg mixture.

Put the butter in a small frying pan. Set the pan on a stove burner and turn the heat on to medium. When the butter is melted, lift the sandwich and place it in the pan. Fry until the underside is light brown, about 2 minutes. (Lift up the edge of the sandwich with a spatula to peek underneath.) Slip the spatula under the sandwich and turn it over to brown the other side. Serve immediately with a spoonful of stawberry jam on top.

Reprinted in The Sacramento Bee October 15, 1997.