Eric Kayser'S Croque-Monsieur With Mornay Sauce

1. 1

   Start making the mornay sauce: In a saucepan, slowly melt the butter at low heat. Once melted, add the flour and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk. Bring to a slow boil. keep whisking for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Add the shredded gruyere cheese. Season with nutmeg, salt and white pepper to taste. Set aside.

2. 2

   Prepare the croque-monsieur: Gently butter one side of the bread slices and set them face down onto a sheet pan. For each croque-monsieur, Layer one slice gruyere cheese, 1 tablespoon of the mornay sauce, 2 slices of smoked ham, another tablespoon of mornay sauce, top with another slice of gruyere. Cover with a buttered side of bread face up. Set oven at 350F and cook for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cut each croque-monsieur into 4 wedges and decorate with chopped chives.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.