Croque Madame Casserole - Paula Deen - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
10 -12 slices white bread (or sour dough)
3/4 lb deli ham, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups gruyere cheese, grated, reserve some for top of casserole
6 eggs

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.(or larger dish)
Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over low heat until bubbling. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thick and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes more.
Whisk in the mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Pour a thin layer of the sauce into the prepared baking dish and cover it with 5 or 6 slices of the bread, then slices of the ham and an even layer of the Gruyere.
Repeat the layers once more, ending with a third layer of sauce to cover all.
Bake the casserole for 30 minutes.
Working in 2 batches, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Crack 3 eggs into the skillet and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the whites are nearly set, about 3 minutes.
Carefully flip the eggs and continue cooking until the whites are slightly set, they will cook more under the broiler.
You're going to top portions of the casserole with a fried egg. Repeat with the remaining 3 eggs.
Top with Gruyere and put in the oven for a few minutes until cheese melts, watching carefully so it does not burn.
Cut into 6 pieces so each has an egg and serve.