Croque Monsieur

Make it

| Serves 2

1)  Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan oven)

2)  First make the sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan then stir in the flour. Cook over a medium low heat for a minute or two then reduce the heat and very gradually add the milk, whisking between each addition. The flour will absorb the milk to make a thick paste at first, but keep adding a little at a time. When all the milk has been added increase the heat and cook for a few minutes until the sauce begins to thicken but don’t let it boil. Keep stirring all the time. When the sauce becomes thick and glossy, turn off the heat, season with black pepper and whisk in the mustard and nutmeg. Stir in two thirds of the cheese and set aside to cool a little

3)  Lightly toast one side of each slice of bread then place on a baking tray, untoasted side uppermost. Spread 2 slices of bread with a little of the cheese sauce then add the sliced ham. Add another thin layer of cheese sauce then the other slices of bread, toasted sides uppermost

4)  Spread the rest of the sauce over the top slices of bread (this should be a fairly thick layer) then sprinkle on the remaining cheese

5)  Place the baking tray in the oven and cook the sandwiches for about 10 minutes then pop under the grill for another couple of minutes until the top is golden and bubbling. Add a little more black pepper before serving