At Nod, we believe your home should be a celebration of family. We'll be featuring our Managing Director, Michelle, at home celebrating her own family with recipes, crafts and décor created by our friend Sweet Paul. 

The first time I had a croque madam I was hooked.  It was on a trip to France with my parents when I was a boy.  From the description on the menu it sounded like a very simple ham sandwich to me, but when a gooey and cheesy golden brown sandwich topped with an egg appeared before me, I melted.  It’s been my FAVORITE sandwich ever since!

Serves 4

You will need:

2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 tablespoon plain flour

1 cup warm milk

salt and pepper

8 thick slices of good bread

8 slices ham

4 oz grated gruyere cheese

4 fried eggs, sunny side up

1.Melt the butter in a small pan and add the flour. 2.Stir for about a minute, don't let it go dark. 3.Add the milk, a little at a time, stirring until you have a smooth sauce. If it's to thick, just add some more milk. 4.Season with salt and pepper. 5.Heat oven to 400F. 6.Place 4 slices of bread on a baking tray covered with parchment paper. 7.Add some sauce, ham, cheese and another piece of bread. 8.Bake in the oven until golden. 9.Serve hot with more sauce and a fried egg on top.

By Paul Lowe:

When it comes to making simple crafts or elegant meals, Paul Lowe is the man to call. His blog, Sweet Paul has now spun into a successful magazine, providing tons of useful design tips.