FRIED MOZZARELLA

• 8 oz. fresh Italian mozzarella
• 4 eggs
• 8 slices of bread*
• flour
• salt to taste
• olive oil to fry

1. Remove the crusts from the bread.

2. Cut the mozzarella into 4 even slices and place each of them on a piece of bread. Make sure the mozzarella doesn't go right up to the edge of the bread or it won't close well.

3. Put the remaining slices of bread on top just like a sandwich.

4. Now prepare a plate with a little water and another with flour.

5. Dip the edges into the flour and then into the water. The place them on a plate and gently press the edges so they stick together. This will make a sort of paste to keep the bread closed when you fry it. Don't soak them in the water, just a quick dip.

6. Now beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pour them over the mozzarella turning them to makes sure the egg soaks in well on both sides.

7. Let them sit in the eggs for about five minutes.

8. Heat a fry pan with abundant olive oil an fry them until brown on both sides.

9. Set them on paper towels to absorb the excess oil and then serve.

Notes: You should handle them carefully as the will want to fall apart before they are fried. I use a spatula to turn them in the egg and slide them gently into the hot oil.