Croque Madame

A short while ago we decided to buck our usual trend of evening hang outs with our pals the Brownes and go for something a little different. It’s called breakfast. You may have heard of it.

It was a French kind of morning. Why you say? Well, I have no idea. I just felt like it was necessary.

Thankfully, Matt & Erin brought fresh fruit to offset the gluttony we would be serving up…

If you’ve never experienced Croque Monsieur or Madame, then Monsieur or Madame I highly recommend you try it one day.

“Let me e’splain…no, there is too much. Let me sum up…”  (name that movie!)

Ham. Gruyére. Béchamel.

In short, simultaneously the best and worst thing you could put in your body for breakfast. A croque madame is essentially a simple thing, but assembled with care and quality ingredients.

What you will need:

• Bread. Of the white nature. You want something that can withstand some abuse. So your run-of-the-mill white bread won’t cut it. We used sourdough
• Sliced ham. Mmmmmm…..ham
• Gruyére cheese (pronounced grew-yare). Swiss is a good substitute for this, but if you can find gruyére, I highly suggest it. It has a more robust flavor
• Dijon Mustard
• Eggs
• Béchamel (classic french white sauce, recipe as follows)

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk (hot)
• S & P
• Pinch of nutmeg

1. Melt ya butta (medium heat)
2. Add ya flour
3. Stir to make a white roux
4. Add the milk slowly, stirring constantly until thickened
5. Add pinch of nutmeg, salt & pepper to taste
As for the sammies, basically you’re going to assemble them in a happy manner:

1. Bread, slathered with dijon
2. Ham
3. Béchamel
4. 2nd piece of bread
5. Gruyére

Bake that sucker on 350 until gooey (open the oven door towards the end and crank your broiler up to make that cheese brown & bubbly…ya know, if you’re into that kind of thing)

While your sammiches are a bakin’….fry yourself an egg.

*There’s really no magic in photoshop that makes an egg look appealing*

Top the sandwich with your fried egg, then more sauce. Parsley or chives for some greenery.

Enjoy your heart attack on a plate. May want to add a mile or so to that run you were planning later.

You WERE planning a run later right?

Bon Appetit!