Croque Madame

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. To make bechamel, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, salt and pepper; whisk until combined. Whisk in milk and nutmeg, add bay leaf and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened and bubbly. Discard bay leaf. Remove from heat, stir in 1 cup cheese and set aside.
2. Spread 1 teaspoon butter on one side of each bread slice and arrange, butter-side down, on a sheet pan. Spread mustard on half of the bread slices and top with ham. Evenly divide 1/2 cup cheese among remaining bread slices.
3. Bake on the bottom rack 4–5 minutes or until bread has toasted and cheese has melted.
4. Meanwhile, in a skillet, fry eggs in remaining butter until desired doneness. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
5. Remove sheet pan from oven and preheat broiler. Evenly spread half of the bechamel over ham, then top with remaining bread slices, cheese-side down, to make sandwiches.
6. Evenly top sandwiches with remaining bechamel and cheese. Broil 1–2 minutes or until bubbly and browned. Top each sandwich with a fried egg and serve immediately.