Croque Monsieur

• Ingredients:
• 5 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 fresh thyme sprig
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 6 oz. Gruyere cheese, grated
• 8 slices sweet batard
• 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 12 oz. thinly sliced ham

1. Directions:
2. Preheat an electric panini press on the panini setting according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until well combined and lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk, then add the bay leaf, thyme sprig, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook, whisking, until the mixture simmers and thickens slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 oz. of the cheese and whisk until melted. Remove and discard the bay leaf and thyme sprig. Keep the Mornay sauce warm.
4. In another small saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter. Brush one side of each bread slice with melted butter. Turn 4 of the slices over and brush each with 1 tsp. mustard. Top each with 1 oz. cheese, 3 oz. ham and about 1/4 cup Mornay sauce, spreading it evenly over the ham. Cover each with one of the remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
5. Place 2 sandwiches on the preheated panini press and close the lid. Cook until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Repeat to cook the remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

ingredients, butter, flour, milk, bay leaf, thyme, nutmeg, kosher salt, gruyuere cheese, sweet batard, mustard, ham

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/croque-monsieur-51261341 (may not work)