Croque-Monsieur

A croque-monsieur is a sandwich served in France made with ham and cheese and usually topped with a Béchamel sauce. It's cooked in a pan with butter, much like a grilled cheese, but it's much more satisfying. This dish would be a great lunch but could also be served as a light dinner.

1 Tablespoon of butter (plus more for cooking sandwiches)
1 1/2 tablespoons of flour
1 cup hot milk
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 slices white sandwich bread
8 slices of virginia ham

1. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes. Slowly add hot milk and continue whisking often until sauce thickens.

2. While sauce is thickening lay out four slices of bread. Put two slices of ham on each and top with gruyère cheese (saving 1/4 cup for the bechamel), and the remaining bread.

3. Heat a frying pan to medium heat. Butter both sides of each sandwich and cook each one at a time about 1-2 minutes per side, or until lightly brown.

4. Once, the sauce has thickened stir remaining gruyère cheese and parmesan, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Top sandwiches with the sauce and serve.