Easy Croque-Madame

Ingredients

• 2 slices sandwich bread, any favorite variety
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 thin slices Gruyere, or other firm, melting cheese, or enough cheese to cover the bread slices
• 2 thin slices deli ham, like Black Forest
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large egg
• Pinch teaspoon salt
• Pinch teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or parsley

Directions

1. Spread mayonnaise over both bread slices, then turn them over and coat the opposite sides with mustard. On one slice, stack a slice of cheese, the ham, and the second slice of cheese. Place the remaining bread on top with the mustard facing in, so the mayonnaise is on the outside of the sandwich.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat, then place the sandwich in the pan. If you have a bacon press, grill press, or panini press, use it to gently weigh the sandwich down; if not, press it occasionally with the broad side of your spatula as it cooks. Cook for 3 minutes, until the bread underneath is golden.
3. Turn the sandwich over carefully in the skillet. Put the bacon press back on top, or press again with the flat side of your spatula, and cook for another 3 minutes, until the second side is golden. Move the sandwich to a plate.
4. Wipe the skillet clean. Warm the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat until it looks shimmery and moves easily across the pan. Crack in the egg and cook for exactly 1 minute. Cover the skillet and continue cooking for 30 to 60 seconds, until the whites are fully set. A soft yolk is the classic move here, but you can cook it longer if you prefer it firmer.
5. Slide the egg onto the sandwich. Finish with salt, pepper, and thyme or parsley, then serve right away.