Hello!!
I have missed you all SO much this past week!
And just blogging in general. Man, I knew I loved cooking and blogging, but I didn’t realize until last week how HUGE a part of my life it is.
I went through blog withdraws.
I had so much fun cooking my butt off on Sunday and getting all prepped for this week! It was, however, quite exhausting. I felt like I was prepping a Thanksgiving meal…finish one thing, clean up, start another. Crazy, but really fun!
So this sandwich….
Ohhhhhhhhh my gosh it’s so good I can’t even describe it.
Just kidding, I can. When am I ever short for words?
This classic French ham and cheese sandwich is assembled with lightly toasted white sandwich bread, a big dollop of Dijon mustard, gourmet ham, delicious gruyere cheese, and slathered with a luscious, cheesy bechamel sauce before baking and transforming into gooey, melt-y sandwich heaven.
I basically cried when I ate it.
With happiness.
Because, I mean…
That.
Can you blame me?
Let’s just all move to France and live there forever. And eat this for every meal.
Yes?
Done.
There is actually a little bit of history behind this sinfully delicious sandwich.
Have you ever seen the movie It’s Complicated? If not, stop what you are doing, go rent the movie, and watch it ASAP.
It is one of my all time favorites. So there is one part of the movie where Meryl Streep (love her) makes a fantastic looking sandwich for Steve Martin. You can’t really tell what it is, but it looked SO BOMB.
I searched and searched and searched for what it was, and – since discovering it was a Croque Monsieur – have been meaning to make it for years.
Thank you, It’s Complicated (and my obvious obsession with food) for leading to the creation of this beauty.
Seriously….
And it’s not even hard to make. It sounds so fancy with “Croque Monsieur” and “Bechamel” bein’ thrown around all over the place, but it’s really just a ham and cheese sandwich topped with a super simple cream sauce and baked.
I will tell you a secret behind this sandwich, though. You really have to use nice ingredients. If you used Walmart brand deli ham, super cheap sandwich bread, and a different type of cheese it just wouldn’t be the same. I promise. And I am usually not an ingredient snob (my pantry is filled with Walmart brand stuff). But with this, there are only a few really simple ingredients, so the quality really does matter.
In other news…remember how Boone was limping and I was worried we were going to have to take him to the vet again?
Well we did and his poor little toe is broken. Poor baby. Now he is on “strict rest” for over a month, which means no frisbee!
Gasp! He is so bored and hyper.
It was a super chill and easy experience at the vet, just like always (sarcasm), that ended in the vet techs having to administer three (yes…three) different types of sedatives in order for him to be docile enough to receive an x-ray. Yayyyyy!!!!
It’s okay. He’s totally worth it.
And my first week at my new job (the school year technically doesn’t start until the 19th) was crazy!
It was proooobably the most overwhelming week of my life, but I met with the teacher who taught this class for the last several years, and she made me feel a lot better. I am starting to feel like I have a slight, tiny, very VERY small grasp on things. Sometimes.
Life is crazy…
…But not as crazy as this sandwich. Which you MUST MAKE RIGHT NOW!
- 8 slices of white sandwich bread. Buy the fancy kind from bakery section of the grocery store. If you buy it from the bread aisle where all the other sandwich loaves are, it will turn out a little soggy. Any type of sliced Italian bread, sourdough bread, or any high quality kind from the bakery section will work.
- 8 oz gruyere cheese, grated
- 16 slices (a little less than a pound) of good quality ham (I had it sliced fresh at the deli counter)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 5 grates of fresh nutmeg
- 8 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Chopped parsley (optional garnish)
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
- Place all 8 slices of bread on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes, remove from the oven, flip the slices of bread over, and bake for another 3 (take the bread out if it is getting anywhere past a light golden brown)
- Meanwhile, make your bechamel sauce
- Melt your butter in a large saute pan and add your flour
- Whisk together and let cook for about 30 seconds, whisking constantly
- Add the milk and whisk until everything is smooth and combined
- Bring this mixture to a simmer, and let it cook until it has thickened slightly
- Remove from the heat and add ⅔ cups of the grated gruyere cheese and the fresh grated nutmeg
- Season to taste with salt and pepper
- Remove the bread from the oven and assemble the sandwiches
- Spread 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard onto each slice of bread
- Lay 2 slices of ham each on 4 of the pieces of bread
- Evenly distribute half of the remaining gruyere on top of the ham on each sandwich (the other half will be used later)
- Place the remaining 4 slices of bread on top of the gruyere and place the sandwiches back onto the parchment lined baking sheet
- Spoon ⅓ cup of the bechamel on top of each sandwich (if there is any left over, add extra to the tops of the sandwiches)
- Sprinkle the remaining gruyere cheese on top of the sandwiches and bake for 10 minutes
- Turn the oven onto broil and broil the sandwiches for another 3-5 minutes, or until tops of the sandwiches are golden brown and bubbly
- Top with chopped parsley for color (optional)
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more sandwiches? Check these out:
Open Faced Turkey Meatball Sub
Pesto Chicken Salad Pita Pockets
Oh my gosh this sandwich is looking so delish. Love the cheesy sauce. Definitely have to try it.
Rachna@rachnas-kitchen.com recently posted…Punjabi Samosa Recipe, How to make Samosa | Vegetable Samosa Recipe With Video
Congratulations on your new job! This sandwich looks incredible! I am drooling! That movie was on my list to rent/stream. Thanks for reminding me I need to see it.:)
Thao @ In Good Flavor recently posted…Roast Pork and Sesame Shrimp Summer Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn)
I’ve never had a Croque Monsieur….it does sound fancy. The list of ingredients sounds delightful!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop recently posted…Plum Jam
It sounds fancy, and it even tastes fancy, but it is so easy to make! It is my new obsession!
I am seriously drooling over my screen right now. I have never eaten this before, but it looks like the most epic sandwich ever!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Healthier Summer Berry Slice by Dannii
You have to try it!!! You will be in love :).
Oh wow! This sandwich looks absolutely stunning and delish, Annie! Ah! Ans that creamy sauce is just to die for. And I love ‘It’s Complicated’ Lovely movie! :)
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen recently posted…Spiced Rice Lentils with Grilled Pineapple And Cucumber Honey Lemon Yogurt
Thanks, Anu!
This Sandwich is PERFECT!! and that bechamel sauce.. oh my gosh!! love everything about this sandwich!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong recently posted…Salmon Curry With Cauliflower And Potato (Fulkopi Aloo Diye Macher Jhol)
I’m with ya, Arpita. I love everything about it too :). You have to try it!
I would gladly move to France and eat croque monsieur’s and croissants all day every day :) This looks so amazing! I am all over anything that involves melted cheese, mmmmm…. Sorry to hear about Boone, poor thing. Hope the month goes by quickly!
Maya @ Treats and Eats recently posted…Dulce de Leche Espresso Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
That sounds like the best life EVER!! Thanks, Maya!
I go through phases where I cut back on blogging but I always miss it! All of it, the writing of posts, the communicating with other bloggers, even the social media aspect. I miss it when I’m not participating in it!
Hope everything is going well and I hope you have a great week, Annie! This croque monsieur looks incredible! :)
Julie | Small Green Kitchen recently posted…Garlic Parmesan Herb Zucchini
I am the same way! This blog keeps me sane haha. Thanks, Julie!
Congrats on your new job, Annie! So glad the teacher helped make you feel better too. Love this sandwich! It looks crazy delicious!
Kelly – Life Made Sweeter recently posted…Fresh Cherry Berry Crumble Bars
Thanks, Kelly!
Love how you tried looking up the sandwich in a movie. You are a true foodie! This seriously looks amazing. I think I would also cry :p
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness recently posted…Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Squares
Uhhh yeah…that totally shows my obsession with food! Thanks, Cathleen :).
Let me just start off by saying: this post totally made my day. Let me explain! I had my first Croque Monsieur in France in 2010 and have been obsessed with their food ever since. Luckily, there’s an authentic French Café in my neighborhood where I can get these all the time! (And authentic meaning, the owners, like just moved here from France and can barely speak English!) But after seeing this post, I know I was DESTINED to actually make this sandwich – right now- for dinner. Thank you! xxooxx
Dorcas@feelgoodfoodblog recently posted…Banana Coconut Chocolate Bon Bons
Oh my gosh, isn’t it the best sandwich EVER?! Girl…you have to (HAVE TO) try to make it at home! It is seriously the best thing ever. And easy!
Mmm this sandwich looks amazing, Annie! I just want to reach right through my screen and grab it! I love that creamy sauce. Perfection!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Cherry Pie Overnight Oats
Thanks, Gayle!!
These look very tasty! I need to give these a try. AND I love “It’s Complicated” such a great movie! :)
Ana | Espresso My Kitchen recently posted…Zucchini Meatballs
Thanks!! Yesss it’s the best movie ever!!
Croque Monsieur is one of my favorite sandwiches! Ahhhh I want one so bad right now. Totally need to make this ASAP..and adapt it to be gluten-free! It’s a good thing that I recently found a gluten-free bread that I actually like. Poor Boone! Hopefully the month goes by fast so he can get back to playing frisbee. My parent’s dog, Molly, hurt her back once and we had to hide her ball and keep her “calm”. It only worked for one day before she was back to being wild again! So, good luck! :)
Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Individual Blueberry Peach Crisps {Paleo}
I bet this would work great with gluten free bread!! Since the sauce bakes and soaks into it anyway, you probably wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference!
Oh my gosh,.. this salad looks absolutely crazy and so delicious! I’d never heard of it before, but now I MUST make it!! :)
You seriously MUST! It is pure heaven :).
This looks like the perfect mid-week evening meal to get me out of that slump! Absolutely delicious!
Thanks, Lucie!!