Croque Monsieur Brunch

Execution:

Preparations:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) set to fan.

Cooking the Bacon:

1. Sauté the Bacon: Place a frying pan over medium-high heat. Cut the bacon into small cubes, add it to the pan, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until browned. Then remove the pan from the heat.

Preparing the Bread:

1. Flatten the Bread: Place the bread slices on a cutting board and press them down one by one with a rolling pin to make them flat and slightly bigger.
2. Cut the Bread: Cut half of the slices in half to fit them better into the pan.

Assembling in the Bundt Pan:

1. Butter the Pan: Butter a Bundt pan well.
2. Layer the Bread: Place 2/3 of the bread all around the bottom, sides, and center of the pan, stacking the slices together.
3. Add Filling: Add 100 g mozzarella, half of the ham, 5-6 tablespoons of bechamel sauce, half of the bacon, and 1 tablespoon of thyme.
4. Repeat: Follow the same process for another layer of the same ingredients, except for the bread. Cut the ham slices in half if needed.
5. Cover with Bread: Cover the ingredients with the rest of the bread slices.
6. Add Toppings: Sprinkle with 50 g mozzarella and ½ tablespoon of thyme.

Baking:

1. First Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
2. Turn Over and Add Toppings: Remove the pan, turn it over on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Spread the remaining bechamel sauce with a pastry brush, and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and thyme.
3. Final Bake: Increase the oven’s temperature to 250°C (480°F). Bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden.

Serving:

• Serve: Remove from the oven, cut into pieces, and serve.

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