CROQUE MONSIEUR OR MADAME

Croque Madame or Monsieur

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
1 cup of half and half
Couple gratings of fresh nutmeg
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups of shredded Swiss cheese
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
8 slices of toasted sandwich bread
Spicy mustard
8 slices of smoked sliced deli ham
4 fried eggs, done to taste

Preheat broiler. Meanwhile make a very light roux by melting the butter and stirring in the flour, cooking only about a minute. Whisk in the half and half slowly until fully incorporated, and continue whisking until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from burner and grate in nutmeg, adding the Parmesan and 1/4 cup of the Swiss cheese. Stir until cheese is blended in, add salt and pepper and hold over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of half and half if needed to loosen.

Meanwhile, toast the bread under the broiler on both sides, leaving the oven door ajar. Warm the ham in the microwave. Spread a thin layer of mustard to one side of four slices of toast and top each piece with two slices of ham. Sprinkle each sandwich with about 1/8 cup of the Swiss cheese. Place open faced, under the broiler, with the oven door ajar, just until cheese is melted. Remove sandwiches and top with the remaining toast. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the top of each sandwich. If sauce has thickened, stir in just a bit of half and half to loosen first. Divide the remaining Swiss cheese and sprinkle over the top of each sandwich. Place under the broiler, with the door ajar, just until cheese has melted and begins to lightly brown. Top with a fried egg and serve immediately.