ham and gruyere croissants

Ingredients:

béchamel sauce:

4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 cup whole milk

Pinch of ground nutmeg

1 bay leaf

6 small croissants, sliced in half

12 ounces thinly sliced Black Forest ham

12 ounces grated Gruyère cheese

Directions:

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Add nutmeg and bay leaf. Simmer until sauce thickens, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside or cool completely at room temperature, cover surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Rewarm on low heat to continue.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open the croissants. Spread 1 tablespoon of béchamel sauce on the inside of each half. Sprinkle each half with 1 ounce gruyere. Top one side with 2 ounces ham. Carefully cover with other half. Loosely wrap each filled croissant in foil. Heat in oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve immediately.

Makes 6