Croque Monsieur or Madam
Ingredients:
4 bread slices (not too thin)
1 tbl butter
2 tbl flour
1 cup scalded milk (more if needed; you can also use a broth for part of it)
salt
pepper
pinch of cayenne
pinch of nutmeg
gruyere cheese, grated
ham, thinly sliced
Optional: for the Croque Madam you will need a fried egg
Instructions:
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Toast bread under the broiler on both sides. Remove and set aside.
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Prepare bechamel: Melt butter over low heat in a small saucepan, stir in flour and cook about 2 minutes continually stirring - do not brown. Slowly pour in scalded milk whisking constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Turnoff the heat and add seasoning, small amount of gruyere if desired. Stir until combined and set aside.
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Build sandwiches: spread a smear of bechemal on bottom crust, add ham and some gruyere. Place the top piece of toast on the sandwich and top that with a generous amount of bechamel and more gruyere.
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Broil in the oven until tops are golden brown and bubbly.
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Serve warm.
Optional: add a fried egg to the top to make a Croque Madam.
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