Mini Grilled Gruyere And Ham Sammies With Cornichons Recipes

Steps:

• Line up 8 slices of bread on a work surface.
• Heat a small saucepot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and melt. Add flour to the butter and whisk together. Cook flour and butter together for 1 to 2 minutes, then whisk in half-and-half or milk. Bring sauce to a bubble and thicken another 1 or 2 minutes. Season sauce with salt, then whisk in prepared Dijon mustard.
• Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat.
• Spread each slice of bread with Dijon bechamel sauce and build 4 sandwiches with 2 or 3 slices of ham and 2 slices of cheese per sandwich. The Dijon bechamel sauce will help hold the meat and cheese in place. Make slices of ham and cheese rest flat; do not pile the meat or cheese. Butter the tops of the 4 sandwiches and set onto griddle or grill, buttered side down. Butter opposite side of each sandwich while the first side is grilling. Toast sandwiches 4 minutes on each side, turn with thin spatula. Serve with cornichons, pickled onions and extra Dijon mustard to pass at table.

Steps:

• To make pastry: Use pastry blender or fork to cut butter and vegetable shortening into 3/4 inch (2 cm) pieces.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar (optional), and salt adn stir to mix. Scatter butter and shortening pieces over the flour mixture. Using a fork, toss to coat with the flour. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter and shortening until the mixture forms large, coarse crumbs the size of large peas. Drizzle ice water over the mixture and toss with a fork until the dough is evenly moist and begins to come together in a mass, but does not yet form a ball.
• Transfer dough to a work surface. Divide dough in half and form each half into a 6 inch (15 cm) disk. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour or overnight.
• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 F (200 C).
• Remove 1 dough disk from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out into a round about 13 inches (33 cm) in diameter and 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick.
• Using a 2 inch (5 cm) biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out circles of dough and fit into 24 mini-muffin-pan cups. If needed, also use second disk and reroll and cut scraps as needed. Place a small ball of crumpled aluminum foil in each cup.
• Bake in preheated oven 4 minutes; remove foil and set it aside. Prick bottom of each pastry with a fork and continue baking until golden, 2-3 minutes longer. Let cool on a wire rack and set aside. This may be completed up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container.
• Reduce oven heat to 350 F (180 C) or preheat oven if shells were prepared in advance.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and ham. Whisk to combine. This may be completed up to 1 day in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.
• Spoon egg mixture into pastry shells, filling them to the brim.
• Bake the quiches until filling is puffed and lightly golden, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in the pan. Garnish with chives if desired; serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Spread one side of each bread slice with the butter.
• On a clean work surface, place 4 slices buttered-side down.
• Divide the cheese and ham among those 4 slices.
• Place the remaining 4 slices of bread on top, buttered-side up.
• Heat a grill pan or a 12-inch skillet with a lid over medium heat until warm. Place the sandwiches in the skillet (in batches if necessary) and cook, covered, 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until cheese melts and bread is golden brown.
• Cut each sandwich in half; slide in 1 or 2 tomato slices and serve hot.