| Croque Monsieur: |
| 4 servings Ingredients: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup flour 2 1/4 cups milk Salt and freshly ground black pepper Pinch of ground nutmeg 2 cups (about 3/4 pound) grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese 1/2 cup light-colored beer 8 slices Toast bread 4 slices ham Method: Start by making the Mornay sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, and mix briskly with a whisk for 2 minutes. Still over low heat, add 2 cups of the milk, continuing to whisk briskly. When the sauce comes to a boil, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add 1/2 cup of the Gruyere to complete the Mornay. Remove from the heat, and let cool. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of milk and the beer in a bowl. Add the remaining Gruyere to this liquid. Let soak for 2 minutes, then drain. Top each 4 slices of bread first with a slice of ham and then another slice of toast, liberally soak with the Mornay sauce. Sprinkle with the soaked Gruyere, and cook in a toaster oven or under a broiler until golden brown. To make a "Croque Madame" simply top the "Croque Monsieur" with a raw egg and bake then. |
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