Day 17: Croque Monsieur Sandwich

A classic that should not be missing from your appetizers this season! From the fanciest French cafés right at your table following this easy recipe I am sharing with you!

Croque Monsieur Sandwich*

♥ 4 slices of your favorite toast bread (whatever you like but not baguette)
♥ 1 tablespoon of mustard (pref. Dijon)
♥ 1 tablespoon of light butter
♥ 1 tablespoon of all purpose flour
♥ 177 ml milk
♥ 22 g grated parmesan cheese
♥ pinch of salt and pepper
♥ few slices of Emmental cheese (or any with the ''eyes'', your favorite)
♥ few slices of ham (thin slices)
♥ 1 tablespoon of melted butter

INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven at 200 Celsius degrees. Brush your bread on both sides with melted butter and place them in the oven and toast both sides (flip them around so they get equally toasted). 

In a saucepan prepare the bechamel, melt the butter and add the flour, stir them until is creamy (about 1 min). Add the milk and season with salt and pepper. Cook until it thickens (about 5 min). At that point add the grated cheese. Set aside.

Start putting the sandwich together by spreading some mustard on a toast, add a slice of cheese, slices of ham and another slice of cheese, place the other toast on the top to finish and add some bechamel sauce on the top toast and place a slice of cheese. Pop in the oven again until the cheese is melted and brown and bubbly.

Enjoy this sandwich with some salad as a side dish and let me know how you liked it!

*A curiosity is that, if you serve the same sandwich with a sunny egg on top instead of a slice of cheese, this will be called a Croque Madame (since the egg resembles the shape of a hat).

Day 16: Lemon Bars (not light but worth cheating)

I've just made these today for my family so I didn't need to be that extra careful with the sugar or margarine since they are pretty small and if everyone takes 1 bite, nothing it's going to happen! And it's Christmas!!! You are entitled to some extra sugar these days anyway...

Festive Lemon Bars

CRUST

♥ 256 g all-purpose flour

♥ 64 g confectionery sugar

♥ 226 g margarine or butter

FILLING

♥ 415 ml light condensed milk

♥ 4 eggs (you can take the egg yolk out)

♥ 157 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

♥ zest of 1 lemon

♥ 1/4 teaspoon salt

♥ 1 teaspoon baking powder

♥ 1 tablespoon all purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven 180 Celsius degrees. Mix all the ingredients for the crust in a bowl until a dough is formed. Pour the mix in a 9x13'' baking pan lined with aluminium foil. Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients from the filling in another bowl. After you get the crust out of the oven, pour this mixture over the crust and bake for another 25 minutes. Get it out, leave it 30 minutes out at room temperature. Place it in the fridge for 2 hours cooling. Get it out, sprinkle confectionery sugar on top and serve!

Amazing smell and delicious treat for your guests!

Day 15: Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls

Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls

♥ 105 g raw almonds
♥ 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
♥ 12 seedless dates
♥ 2 tablespoons of all natural peanut butter

INSTRUCTIONS: Chop your almonds by placing them in a blender until they look almost like almond meal. Process the dates until they become a paste. When it's done add the rest of the ingredients in the blender over the dates paste and mix again for another minute. From the dough you got, form little balls and serve them! You can add some coconut flakes or serve right away! If it's too sticky, add a little honey! 

Enjoy!

Day 14: Pizzadilla

Something more filling for your brunch!

The Pizzadilla (for one)

♥ 1 whole wheat tortilla wrap
♥ 5 black olives sliced
♥ half green pepper
♥ 4 slices of pepperoni
♥ quarter red onion
♥ a little handful of grated cheese (your favorite light one)

INSTRUCTIONS: Spread the ingredients on one side of the tortilla and at the end sprinkle the grated cheese so when you fold the tortilla in 2, the grated cheese will act as a glue. Place these in a pan and heat over medium heat.