Instructions:

Melted Cheese Toasts Lorraine

Yields 4 sandwiches
Broiling time: 5 minutes

8 slices thick cut white bread
1 1/2 cups beer
1/2 lb. gruyere, grated
dash cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons butter
4 slices ham

Preheat broiler to 400

Lightly toast the bread and butter it.

In a saucepan reduce the beer by half over moderate heat. Add the grated cheese, stirring until the mixture has the consistency of paste. Season with cayenne pepper.

In a skillet melt the 3 tablespoons of butter and pan-fry the slices of ham over moderately high heat. Place the ham slices on toast, cover with the cheese mixture and top with the remaining toast, butter side up.

Put the sandwiches on a baking sheet and run under the broiler until the toast is golden, about 5 minutes.

Serve very hot, cut into quarters.