Croque Monsieur: The Parisian Ham & Cheese

Croque Monsieur

The Parisian Ham & Cheese Sandwich

This is a heavenly sandwich that is easy and rather quick to make, with a few special touches, it will be the guilty pleasure you’re proud of! I LOVE this sandwich for brunch, for lunch, and it’s fantastic for entertaining - you’ll certainly impress!

Difficulty: Moderate Easy Servings: Entree 2 (cut into small pieces for hors d'oeuvres)

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces Country Bread
• 4 oz Gruyere Cheese (Swiss is fine)
• ½ lb. Thin deli sliced Ham (not cold cuts)
• ¼ cup shaved Parmesan Cheese    
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 Tbsp AP Flour
• 4 Tbsp unsalted Butter & More for buttering bread
• 1 tsp salt (to taste)
• 1 tsp grated Nutmeg
• Pinch white pepper
• Pinch Cayenne pepper

The Mornay Sauce :

.

• Make the Roux in a small pot over Med-High heat:Melt butter, whisk in flour until blended. Cook 1 minute - keeping blonde.

  

• Add milk.
• Whisk constantly until starts to bubble. Lower heat.
• Add Parmesan - whisk until melted.
• Salt, Peppers, and Nutmeg. (Check salt for taste - should taste beautiful cheese sauce)
• Keep whisking (including bottom & sides to keep from scorching milk.)  
• Once thick turn off heat.

*Mornay sauce is made with Gruyere, but we’re using Parmesan because the use of Gruyere later.

Bread & Ham: In a Skillet over Med-high

• Lightly brown bread on one side.
• Heat Ham.
• Turn Heat low.

Assembly:

*Turn Broiler on High and rack in middle of oven.

Smother 1 piece of toasted side of Bread with Mornay.

Layer Ham.

Layer Mornay Sauce.

Place Bread on top, toasted side down. Smother Bread with Mornay Sauce. Place back in Skillet.

Cover with Cheese. Turn off stove.

Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly - about 7-8 minutes. Careful not to burn. Rotate pan half way.

*Note you’re not using the broiler below the oven. If you’re oven does not offer a broiler in the full oven then use oven at 400*F.  

Cut in half, and serve with a fork and knife.

Indulge!

Website

#TimeCrunch #FrenchCuisine #Sandwich #Brunch #Lunch #Ham&Cheese #Cheese #BistroFare #ChefCaylena #DIYFrench #HostingEntertaining

A Savory Quiche! *Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, & Herbs!*

*Time Crunch!*

Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, & Herbs!  

A Savory Quiche!

*Can be Gluten Free & Diabetic Friendly if you bake in dish rather than pie crust!*

Creamy Egg Custard mixed with Portobello Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, and tons of Fresh Herbs, all baked in a rich, flaky, Pastry Crust.  

This gorgeous Savory Quiche is simply a wonderful addition to any breakfast, brunch, lunch, or just because it’s a Sunday, occasion. And Yes -it’s that good, it can stand alone just the same.

Simple as 1,2,3 then bake as you go about your day, it can even be made in advance, and served at room temperature. Another gorgeous addition to the #TimeCrunch series.

Light, Fluffy, Savory, and Delicious… you would never imagine how Good it IS for You! Nature’s Multivitamin and a powerful brain food; whole eggs are amongst some of the healthiest foods on the planet! Nutrients are found in the yolk, while protein in the whites, pair that with the abundance of herbs, and goat cheese - it’s simply sumptuous!  So give your brain and day, not to mention ego, a boost!

Serves easily 8. Difficulty Level: Easy                  Active Time: 20m

Cook Time: 40 min  & Cool Time: 20 min

*Pre-heat Oven 400.

Pre-made Pie / Quiche Crust (thawed if frozen.)

• Poke bottom of pie crust with a fork.
• Drop oven to *350.
• Bake for 8 minutes in it’s container on sheet tray until slightly toasted inside.
• Set aside.

Ingredients:

• 8 Whole Eggs
• ¼ Cup Heavy Cream
• 8 Medium sized Portobello Mushrooms -sliced thin
• 1 Tomato (seasonal) - sliced thin
• ½ Shallot - minced (or sweet onion)
• 1 Cup Goat Cheese (reserve some for garnish)
• ¼ Cup Fresh Parsley - chopped
• 2 Tbsp Fresh Thyme - chopped
• 2 Tbsp Fresh Chives - chopped (reserve some for garnish)
• 2 Tbsp Red Chili Flakes
• Salt & fresh ground Pepper (preferably white)
• Olive Oil - for sautee mushrooms.

Meanwhile:

Mise everything out.

In a Saute Pan, heat Olive Oil over Med- High heat. Saute Mushrooms, with Shallots, Red Chili Flakes, Salt, Pepper, and a pinch of Parsley to Al Dente. Leave it toothsome.

Mix Eggs & Cream.

Then Cheese and Herbs.  

Whisk all together.

Pour in Mushroom blend.

And all together into Pie Shell.

Leave ⅛ to ¼ inch from rim because the custard will rise.

Carefully put sheet tray back in the oven on the 3rd rack. Bake for 30 minutes. -Set timer.

Next lay the Tomatoes out on a paper towel to absorb excess juice, and season well with Salt and Pepper.

After 30 minutes Gently pull pie out. It is not finished so be careful not to spill or break!

Layer tomatoes Reserved Goat Cheese and Chives.
Gently put back in the oven for 7- 10 more minutes! Until looks like this.You’re almost finished!

Let sit for 20 minutes before slicing. You can let this sit until room temperature or serve hot.

Even though the herbs appeared to all float to the top- this egg custard is bursting with the flavor of all the herbs, goat cheese, and mushrooms.

Enjoy knowing this only took a few minutes of your time, while the oven did the rest. I’ve created a #TimeCrunchSeries for you to serve proudly; beautiful, delicious, healthy, and inspired dishes. Enjoy!

READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

#TimeCrunch #Lunch #Brunch #BreakfastForDinner #Quiche #NaturesMultiVitamin #Superfood #BrainFood #EggSlut #Antioxidants #DiabeticDiet #HealthyEating #WeightLossEating #Protein #LowFat #LowCarb #Mushroom #Portobello #Herbs #Feta #EggCustard #EasyCooking #CheapEats #AntiInflammatoryFood #SavoryQuiche #TimeCrunch

Conquering and Refining the Mac & Cheese

Conquering and Refining

the Mac & Cheese!

Without all the bells & whistles … that’s up to you.

Serve as a rich and decadent side dish, as the ultimate brunch with a poached egg...

Or as a succulent entree with Soft Shell Crabs.

A thousand ways to make Mac & Cheese… This luscious version is rich & creamy, light & fluffy, slightly smoky, and served with anything you dream off.  This is not your grandparent’s Mac & Cheese, and it’s clearly not Velveeta. This is not made with Truffles, though it’s certainly just as gorgeous, elegant, and beautiful enough to stand alone.

Total Time: 45-1 hour Difficulty: Intermediate Flavor: Gorgeous Serving Size: 6 entree / 12 side dish

*This is a great dish to serve as assemble - or can up to 2 days later.

** Preheat oven *400

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Elbow / Macaroni Noodle - cook until Al Dente in Salty water!
• 6 pieces Smoked Bacon - cooked

• 2 cups Milk (sub ½ cup for ½ cup cream for super rich, but no more)
• 2 Egg Yolks - toss whites
• ½  lb grated Sharp Cheddar (reserve ¼ cup for topping)
• ¼ lb grated Smoked Gouda
• ¼ lb grated Parmesan  (reserve handful for topping)
• 1 oz Brandy or Spiced Rum
• ¼ cup Chives or Scallions (green parts only) chopped
• 2 tsp Butter -Room Temperature.   & more to grease casserole dish
• 2 tsp Flour
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 2 cloves Garlic - minced
• 1 tsp White Pepper (or smoked Paprika)
• ½ tsp Nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp Salt - or to taste, plus more for boiling noodles.
• ½ Cup bread crumbs from crackers

Start with Mise…

Shred your cheese, measure everything out, because it should go fairly fast once you start your Bechamel.

Cook bacon, drain excess grease, chop to bite size pieces.

Boil noodles in Salty water until fairly Al Dente - run under cold water after straining to stop cooking process.

1 - Make the Roux - Blonde.

1. In Sauce Pan mash the Butter & Flour until light paste. Turn heat on over Med- Low to warm.

2 - Add milk and turn up the heat to high, whisking until smooth, never stopping to let the bottom burn. Once starts to foam - lower heat to Medium High while whisking vigorously until thick as a sauce. Drop heat to Low immediately.

Keep going until thick.

3 - Add salt, Nutmeg, White Pepper, Mustard, Garlic.

4- Add the cheese in increments - Whisk until melted. (don’t forget save some for topping.) ** If you’re sauce is getting too hot, pull off heat as not to burn!

5 - Turn off heat once Cheese is melted in.  Stir in Brandy, Bacon, & Chives.

6 - Fold in Yolks, stir gently to mix.  This will turn it very luscious and will coat noodles gorgeously!

7 - Pour and stir Sauce into cold noodles. Taste for salt now.

7 - Butter up Casserole Pan.  

8 - Pour in Mac & Cheese and level top. It’s better for the mac to be spread out in a shallow casserole pan rather than a deep dish because it may turn mushy, plus the toppings are a great spread out.

9 - Top with crushed cracker crumbs, then sprinkle evenly around the remainder of cheese.

10 - Cover in Foil.

** If you’re cooking now in full - Cook 10 minutes - remove foil, cook another 10 minutes… or until it looks like this...

*It is best to let sit for 10-15 minutes before breaking into or serving to let the cheese sauce thicken back up!

Again this is a stunning dish for summer or any weather really… the Soft Shell Crabs of summer with the spice of Old Bay really complement each other. Of course as a side dish, or after a hangover - it’s the most perfect of brunches to bring you back to that happy place!

You can get as adventurous as you’d like, add whatever you want, serve with ever you would like… but this way, is simply perfection.

Enjoy!!!     

READ MORE ON MY WEBSITE

#MemorialDayWeekend #MacNCheese #EggSlut #SummerEats #SoftShellCrab #Brunch #Cheese #ElivatedComfortFood #ComfortFood #KidEats #EasyCooking #CuisinArt