Its Complicated Croque Monsieur

Dinner and A Movie

This is one of my favourite chick flicks! Where do I begin? The food, the bakery, the cooking, the music, her house? This Nancy Meyers movie has it all.

This Movie to me is a cautionary tale Jake (Alec Baldwin) thought the grass would be greener on the other side only to discover all the wonderful about his family life he had taken for granted. Though he has an attractive young wife it really never compared to the deep loving relationship he had with his wife Jane (Meryl Streep) its a must see! You'll laugh you'll cry.

I have watched this movie several times and every time I do I just want to cook everything she does in the movie! Its a great food movie and I plan on doing several recipes from the movie. 

Meryl Streep (Jane) makes Steve Martin (Adam) Croque Monsieur it looks so delicious and I had never tried it so I had to try and it was a hit!

I love this recipe its great for lunch with soup or in the evening with salad and wine.

Croque Monsieur

Bechamel Sauce

¼ cup (1/2 stick)                                               unsalted butter

1/4 Cup                                                                all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups                                                              whole milk

2 tbsp                                                                  dijon mustard

½ tsp                                                                     freshly grated nutmeg

Pinch                                                                     kosher salt

Assembly

8 slices                                                                  thick country-style bread

6 oz                                                                        ham, preferably Paris ham (about 8 slices)

3 oz                                                                        Gruyere, grated (about 1 ½ cups)

1 tsp                                                                      herbes de Provence

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foamy.  Add flour and cook, stirring, until mixture is pale and foamy, about 3 minutes.  Gradually add milk, stirring until mixture is smooth.  Cook, stirring, until sauce is thick and somewhat elastic, about 4 minutes. 
2. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard and nutmeg, and season with salt.
3. You can make the Bechamel 1 day ahead, let cool and press in plastic wrap directly onto surface and chill.

Assembly

Preheat oven to 425 F.  Spread bread slices with bechamel, dividing evenly and extending all the way to the edges.  Place 4 slices of bread, bechamel side up, on a parchment-lined baking sheet; top with ham and half of cheese.  Top with remaining slices of bread, bechamel side up, then top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with herbs de Provence.  Bake until cheese is brown and bubbling, 10-15 minutes.