Croque Monsieur with Greens (Fancy ham and cheese sandwiches)

I'm always looking for easy, somewhat healthy things the whole family will like. Here is one of them!

4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup half-and-half or whole milk
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 slices sandwich bread
¾ pound baked ham, thinly sliced
2 cups (1/2 #) shredded Gruyere cheese or Swiss
2tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon apricot jam or orange marmalade
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves, chopped (from 2 stems)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups mixed baby greens, any variety

Heat a heavy nonstick pan or a griddle over medium low to medium heat. Heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add 2 spoons of the butter and melt. Whisk the flour into the butter and cook for 1 minute then whisk in the half and-half. Season with 1 teaspoon of the Dijon mustard the nutmeg. salt. and pepper and cook for 2 minutes to thicken. Remove from the heat. Spread the bread with the sauce and make sandwiches using a couple of folded slices of ham per sandwich.


Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons of softened butter lightly across the outside faces of each sandwich. Spread the shredded cheese across a plate and press each side of the sandwiches into the cheese then place on the hot pan or griddle. The cheese will brown and form a crisp coating as the sandwich and heats through. Cook for 3 minutes on each side until evenly golden.


In a salad bowl. whisk together the remaining spoon of mustard. the vinegar. apricot jam. and tarrragon. Whisk in the EVOO in a slow stream. Ad greens to the bowl and toss to dress. Season the with salt and pepper and serve on large plates the hot sandwiches alongside.

4 SERVINGS

From Racheal Ray’s 365 Days: No Repeats