croque monsieurs

Do you know what a croque monsieur is??

Sounds fancy, right?

Secret:

Most French cooking sounds fancy and isn't anything more than say, oh, I don't know, a toasty ham and cheese??

Let's get started! :)

Croque Monsieurs

Makes 8.

Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa.

Alternatively, you can add a sunny side up egg on top and it's a Croque Madame.

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups hot milk

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cups grated Gruyere, divided

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

16 slices of plain, white, sandwich bread, crusts removed

2 tablespoons good quality Dijon mustard

8 slices any kind of good Swiss cheese, like Gruyere

8 slices Canadian bacon or any good baked ham

Preheat the oven to 400*.

Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan and add the flour, whisking for about two minutes. 

Slowly pour the hot milk into the butter and flour mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Off the heat add salt and pepper to taste and 2 1/2 cups of the grated Gruyere cheese and the grated Parm, whisk until melted, and set aside.

To toast the bread, place the slices on two baking sheets and bake for five minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another two minutes, until toasted.  Lightly brush half the toasted breads with mustard, add a slice of cheese and ham to each. 

Top with another piece of toasted bread. Slather the tops with the cheese sauce, sprinkle with the remaining grated Gruyere, and bake the sandwiches for five minutes. 

Turn on the broiler and broil for three to five minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Serve hot and enjoy!