Croque Monsieur

This is so delicious. I got this recipe for Ina Garten! She is one of my favorite chefs. I changed the recipe a bit to fit what I had in my kitchen. I also changed the sauce a bit, I felt it wasn't thickening enough.

This is a great brunch recipe and so easy to make! A french recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup hot milk
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• pinch of nutmeg
• 12 ounces mozzarella, grated (5 1/2 cups)
• 16 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
• Spicy brown mustard
• 8 ounces baked Virginia ham, sandwich sliced at your deli.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

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, 1 cup of the Mozzarella and set aside.

Toast the bread, bake on a baking sheet 5 minutes. Turn each slice and bake for another 2 minutes, until toasted.

Lightly brush half the toasted breads with mustard, add two slices of ham to each, and sprinkle with half the remaining Mozzarella. Top with another piece of toasted bread. Slather the tops with the cheesesauce, sprinkle with the remaining Mozzarella, and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned. Serve hot.