Southern Belle Croque Madame

• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or season to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (or season to taste)
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg (eyeball it)
• 2 teaspoons smooth dijon-style mustard
• 12 ounces gruyere cheese, grated (5 cups)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 (18 ounce) package of san gennaro pre-cooked prepared polenta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 8 ounces apple-wood smoked bacon, pan-fried or broiled (do not microwave)
• 5 small eggs or 1 medium egg, fried sunny-side up
• 2 2 tablespoons chives (for garnish) or 2 tablespoons thyme, chopped (for garnish)

1. Preheat oven to 400*F.
2. For the bechamel sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat in a small saucepan and whisk in the flour, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
3. Whisk the milk into the butter/flour mixture and bring to a bubble, then turn heat to low.
4. Season the mixture by adding the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Dijon mustard.
5. Remove from heat when sauce coats the back of a spoon.
6. Add 1/2 cup grated Gruyere and the Parmesan, stirring until incorporated, and set aside.
7. To prepare the polenta: Cut into 1/2 inch slices and pan fry on both sides in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat until crispy & golden brown.
8. Place pan-fried polenta slices onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.
9. To assemble the "sandwiches": Top half of the polenta slices with a dollup of bechamel sauce, 2 slices of bacon each (folded or torn to fit), and sprinkle with half the remaining Gruyere.
10. Top each with another piece of pan-fried polenta.
11. Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere and bake the "sandwiches" for 5 minutes.
12. Remove from the oven.
13. Using a spatula, top each open-faced sandwich with a fried egg, sunny-side up.
14. Slather the tops with the cheese sauce and garnish with chopped herbs if desired.
15. Serve hot.

butter, allpurpose, milk, salt, fresh ground pepper, nutmeg, mustard, gruyere cheese, freshly grated parmesan cheese, gennaro pre, olive oil, applewood smoked bacon, eggs, chives

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/southern-belle-croque-madame-219445 (may not work)