Sues Grilled Ham And Cheese Croque Monsieur Food

VEGETARIAN CROQUE MONSIEUR (GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE W/ TOFU HAM)

Steps:

• Lightly cook the ham (whether it's real or not) in a frying pan on low heat so the edges are nice and crispy and it can help melt the cheeses from the inside. Note that tofu "ham" has natural moisture so you don't have to use cooking spray like you would with real ham. It tastes good a little smoky but try not to burn it.
• Using a pastry or BBQ brush, brush one side of each slice with the melted butter. 1 tbsp should do it.
• Spread the mustard on the other sides of the bread: 2 tbsp was just a guess; spread the mustard as thin or thick as you'd like.
• Layer the ham and cheese on the bread however you'd like. Sometimes I like to just alternate the cheeses and put the ham in the center, other times I like to arrange it differently.
• Cook it on medium-low heat in the frying pan so all the cheeses melt but not too hot or else the bread will burn. Flip it every 30 seconds or so and use a little extra butter in the pan if you have to.
• Cook it until one side is totally done and the other side still hasn't completely browned yet.
• On the un-browned side, pour on the shredded cheese. Cook it face down on the frying pan on low heat until singed.
• Cut in half and serve with pomme frites or a nice endive salad and enjoy.

CROQUE MONSIEUR PUFFS

Steps:

• Adjust rack to the middle of an oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
• Combine water, milk, butter, salt, and ham in a heavy, medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• All at once, add the flour and stir in quickly with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring-the mixture will come away form the sides of the pan and become thick and stiff. Keep stiring and turning over for about 1 minute (you want it to dry out a bit).
• Transfer the dough to an electric mixer, and turn mixer on medium-high speed. Add 1 egg and as soon as it is partially incorporated, increase mixer speed to high. Add the remaining eggs, one at a time when the previous egg is well incorporated. The mixture should be smooth. Mix in the cheese and chives.
• IF you have a strong arm, the dough can also be mixed by hand with a wooden spoon in a mixing bowl. Proceed as directed, and be sure to beat the dough until smooth before mxing in the cheese and chives. Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with cooking spray. (Watch the puff bottomes closely to prevent over-browning if not using parchment.) By heaping teaspoonfuls, drop the mixture onto baking sheets in little balls, spaced apart. They shoud be the size of large marbles or jaw-breakers. (You can also pipe them out using a pastry bag.).
• Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden. Serve warm. You can bake these a few hours in advance and reheat in the oven as well!

GRILLED HAM AND BLUE CHEESE SANDWICH - CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• Toast bread slice, and butter if desired.
• Top with ham slices and cheese.
• Grill until cheese has melted.

CROQUE MONSIEUR

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the flour, and cook until foaming, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Continue to cook, stirring, until the cooking diminishes the flour taste, about 3 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, warm milk. Slowly add warm milk to butter-flour mixture, stirring so that no lumps form. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in half of grated cheese, and season to taste with salt, white pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and set aside to cool.
• Toast the bread on both sides in a hot oven until golden brown. Arrange 4 pieces of toast on work surface, and spread with a small amount of sauce. Cover with a slice of cheese, slice of ham, and another slice of cheese. Top each sandwich with another piece of toast. Spread with additional béchamel sauce, and sprinkle each sandwich with remaining 1/2 cup grated cheese.
• Place sandwiches in an ovenproof pan brushed with butter, and bake in 450°F oven until heated through, about 4 minutes. Transfer to broiler, and broil until golden brown and bubbly.

SUE'S GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE (CROQUE MONSIEUR)

Steps:

• Spread bread with however much mustard you like.
• Top with cheese (thinly sliced or spread), and sliced ham.
• Spread outside of sandwich with soft butter.
• Heat small pan, griddle, or panini maker until it gets hot, then drop in sandwich and immediately turn heat to low.
• Shake pan to evenly distribute butter on bread as it melts.
• When bottom side is golden, flip sandwich, shimmy the pan, and remove sandwich from heat when golden.
• Slice if desired, and serve hot, with your favorite sides.