Croque Monsieur

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Butter one side of each slice of bread with the remaining butter. Place 4 slices, buttered side down, on the baking sheet.
5. Layer each bread slice with 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of cheese. Top with the remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
6. Spoon the béchamel sauce over the top of each sandwich, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
8. For extra crispiness, you can broil the sandwiches for the last 2 minutes of baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.