Yes, Ma’am

While it’s not hard to make, Croque Madame is an oh-so-worth-it hassle.

Croque Madame

Serves 4

» 4 tsp. Dijon mustard

» 8 slices firm white sandwich bread

» ½ lb. thinly sliced Boar’s Head Tavern Ham

» 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided

» 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided

» 3 Tbsp. flour

» 2 cups milk

» ½ tsp. kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning the eggs

» ¼ tsp. freshly ground Kowalski’s black peppercorns, plus extra for seasoning the eggs

» 1 dash ground nutmeg

» 4 eggs

Spread mustard evenly on one side of 4 slices of bread; top with ham and ⅔ of the cheese. Set aside. In a small saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp. butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour; cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in milk; bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low; simmer, whisking occasionally, for 5 minutes. Whisk in salt, pepper, nutmeg and remaining cheese until cheese is melted; remove from heat. Spread 1 ½ Tbsp. sauce on the remaining slices of bread; sandwich with other halves. In a nonstick skillet, melt 1 Tbsp. butter over medium-low heat; cook sandwiches until golden (3–4 minutes), turning once. Move to a baking sheet; spread ⅓ cup sauce on the top of each hot sandwich. Broil sandwiches until sauce is bubbling and golden in spots (2–3 minutes). While sandwiches broil, melt remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat until foam subsides. Crack eggs into skillet; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook eggs, covered, until whites are just set and yolks are still runny (about 3 minutes). Top each warm sandwich with an egg; serve immediately.

Rachael Perron is the culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications. Find more at kowalskis.com.

Abode

Vintage Treasures

In the mid-1990s, Deb Haupt started going to garage and estate sales with a friend. “I loved the hunt,” she says of her knack for finding unusual vintage and antique pieces. Since one house can only hold so much, Haupt started offering an antique sale three times a year in her garage. That worked well until she and her husband, Greg Haupt, went on a trip to Germany, found some wholesale dealers and started buying shipping containers worth of goodies. By 2003, her garage was full, so Deb and Greg rented a house in Rosemount and opened regular pop-up shops. In 2009, the couple ended up buying Haupt Antiek Market’s current location in Apple Valley.

The shop, which is open Thursday through Sunday one weekend each month, features vintage and antique finds from Haupt, as well as 13 other dealers. Each month the shop is staged around a new theme with a fresh inventory of vintage furniture, art, pottery, seasonal wares and more. This spring, watch for a Garden Revival, featuring watering cans, potting benches, planters and more, in April and Cabin Season in May. Upcoming dates include April 20–23, May 18–21 and June 22–25. —Liz

Potasek

Haupt Antiek Market, 7570 W. 147th St., Apple Valley; hauptantiek.com

Haupt Antiek Market @hauptantiek