Croque Monsieur (or Madame)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups hot milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch nutmeg
12 ounces Artisanal Premium Cooking Cheese, grated (5 cups)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
16 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
Dijon mustard
8 ounces baked sliced ham
4 fried eggs (optional - for a croque madame)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

To prepare Mornay sauce:

Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan and add the flour all at once, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Slowly pour the hot milk into the butter–flour mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Off the heat add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, ½ cup grated Artisanal Premium Cooking Cheese, and the Parmesan and set aside.

To toast the bread, place the slices on 2 baking sheets and bake for 5 minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another 2 minutes, until toasted.

Lightly brush half the toasted breads with mustard, add a slice of ham to each, and sprinkle with half the remaining Artisanal Premium Cooking Cheese. Top with another piece of toasted bread.

Spread generous amounts of the Mornay sauce on top of each sandwich, sprinkle with the remaining Artisanal Premium Cooking Cheese, and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 2 to 4 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned.

Add a fried egg to the top of the finished sandwich for a classic Croque Madame! Serve hot.