HEARTY HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH(CROQUE MONSIEUR)

Hearty Ham and Cheese Sandwich(Croque Monsieur) image

Provided by Pat Duran

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/2 Tbsp lite margarine
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1 c hot 2% milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper (pinch)
1 pinch nutmeg
2 c grated gruyère (just ask at the cheese counter- they grate it free)
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
6 slice whole wheat bread (i leave the crust on)
honey dijon mustard
4 oz apple wood baked ham, sliced thin

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 400^. Heat milk in microwave safe measuring cup. In a small saucepan melt the margarine, then add the flour all at once, stirring with spatula until the mixture is smooth..slowly pour the hot milk into the flour mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick. Remove from the heat and add the salt and pepper and the nutmeg. Stir in 1 cup of the grated Gruyère and the all the Parmesan cheese until blended together; and set aside.
2. Cover a cookie sheet with foil- much easier for clean-up. Place the 6 slices of bread on the foil and bake plain in the hot oven for 5 minutes. Turn bread over and bake 4 more minutes, until toasted. Remove from oven.
3. Lightly brush the the bread slices with the mustard and divide the ham equally among 3 slices of the toast, sprinkle 1/2 of the remaining Gruyère over the ham. Top each with the remaining toast. Generously spoon the tops of the toast with the cheese sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining shredded Gruyère, and bake in the hot oven for 5 minutes.
4. Turn on the broiler and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned. (Can us a kitchen torch if you have one)..Serve sandwiches hot.