Croque Monsieur

So i work really close to this amazing french restaurant that i absolutely love, and their food is just so addicting. I pretty much love anything i get there but it can be kind of expensive. So i thought i would try to recreate one of my favorite dishes, the "Croque Monsieur" aka. a Ham and Cheese sandwich but a hundred times better.

Ingredients:

2 slices of thick whole wheat toast

2 slices of smoked ham

2 tbsp. Bechamel sauce (recipe below)

1/4 cup grated Gruyere Cheese

Lay bread open face. Spread bechamel sauce onto each side of bread then layer ham and sprinkle a little Gruyere cheese on top and then make a sandwich. Sprinkle remaining amount of cheese on top of the sandwich and place in the oven until cheese has browned. Serve with a fresh side salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

Bechamel Sauce:

This is kind of like a creamy white sauce almost like Alfredo in the U.S. but not as heavy and more flavorful. I would make this and put it over pasta it's so good and it's way faster.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. flour

1 cup milk

dash of salt, pepper, and nutmeg

1/4 cup Parmesan

1/2 cup Gruyere cheese

Directions:

In a saucepan melt butter and add flour whisking to make a roux. Add milk slowly while wishing heavily to make sure there are no lumps. Add seasoning and cheese. Whisk and melt cheese until creamy. Let cool before adding to bread.