It's (Not) Complicated

Sunday night I was Meryl Streep and I had Steve Martin over for dinner. 

My Sunday night meal was an exact replica of the food eaten in It's Complicated, and seeing as that it is one of my all-time favorite movies, it is no surprise that I was channeling it's menu without even realizing it. 

It all started when I saw a recipe for Croque Monsieur online. Ever since the movie I have wanted to make this classic French dish and Sunday night seemed like the perfect night.

I wish that I could say I learned how to make Croque Monsieur while taking a cooking class in France, but rather it came from this blog.

It was surprisingly easy to make and so delicious, especially since I had a small reserve of Thanksgiving ham left over that was perfect for this recipe. 

Ingredients (serves 2)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 1/2 tablespoons flour

1 cup hot milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

pinch of nutmeg

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded gruyere cheese

sliced ham

2 croissants

Dijon mustard

1. Heat oven to 400. 

2. Completely melt the butter over low heat.

3. Add the flour and whisk continuously for 2 minutes.

4. Slowly add the hot milk and continue to stir until mixture thickens. 

5. Take off heat and add salt, pepper, nutmeg, parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup of gruyere.

6. Set mixture aside.

7. Slice the croissants in half and toast for 4 minutes. 

8. Flip croissants and leave in the oven for 2 more minutes. 

9. Take the croissants out and lightly spread dijon mustard on all sides.

10. Lay ham on one side of each croissant and sprinkle gruyere on top. 

11. Top these with the other half of croissants and cover with cheese sauce (really cover them!) and sprinkle with remaining gruyere. 

12. Bake for 5 minutes.

13. Then turn broiler on low and let cook for 2 more minutes until the tops are bubbling.

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED!

I left mine for just a couple seconds and they burned a bit.

Another It's Complicated Recipe to come later today!