Sandwiches

HONEY BAKED HAM CROQUE MONSIEUR

Name: HONEY BAKED HAM CROQUE MONSIEUR
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 people
Ingredients: 1/4 CUP Unsalted Butter; 1 1/2 CUPS Whole Milk; 8OZ Honey Baked Ham; 1 TSP Herbes de Provence (optional); 1/4 CUP All-Purpose Flour; 1/4 TSP Ground Nutmeg; 4OZ Grated Gruyere; 8 SLICES Thick Sliced Bread

Don't be thrown by the name. Croque Monsieur is simply French for insanely decadent, grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Leave it to the French to take something as wonderful as a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and make it even more luxurious.

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

30 minutes

Serves

4 people

Ingredients

Unsalted Butter

1/4 CUP

Whole Milk

1 1/2 CUPS

Honey Baked Ham

8OZ

Herbes de Provence (optional)

1 TSP

All-Purpose Flour

1/4 CUP

Ground Nutmeg

1/4 TSP

Grated Gruyere

4OZ

Thick Sliced Bread

8 SLICES

Preparation

Start by preparing the bechamel. Warm butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Add flour and cook, stirring continuously. Once flour is fully incorporated, add milk slowly, continuing to stir mixture. Continue to cook until sauce is smooth and has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the nutmeg. Season with salt to taste. Let bechamel cool. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the bechamel has cooled a bit, it's time to build the sandwiches. Begin by spreading bechamel evenly, edge to edge, on one side of each piece of bread. Place 4 of the pieces of bread, bechamel side up on a baking sheet. Top each piece of bread with 2 oz of Honey Baked Ham and 1/2 oz of cheese. Top each of these with a remaining slice of bread, once again bechamel side up. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of each sandwich as well as a small pinch of the herbes de Provence. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and browned on top. If you are feeling especially French, serve with a strong mustard and pickles.