By Kristi O’Toole

The Hot Brown was first served at the Louisville, Kentucky Brown Hotel in 1926 and has become a derby day classic ever since.

Ingredients:

6 slices bacon (or 30, it’s your call)
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 2 oz (60 g) sharp cheddar cheese (white or yellow)
• 1 oz (30 g) fresh Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter

• 2 tbsp (30 mL) flour
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
• 1/8 tsp (.5 mL) pepper
• 1 cup (250 mL) milk
• 6 slices sandwich bread
• 8 oz (250 g) sliced roasted turkey
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place bacon slices, slightly overlapping in Small Ridged Baker. Cover with parchment paper; microwave on HIGH 5 minutes. Carefully remove baker from microwave using oven mitts; separate bacon. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate. Cut tomatoes into thin slices. Halve each slice; set aside.

Using Microplane® Adjustable Coarse Grater, grate both of the cheeses; set aside separately.

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until bubbly. Continue cooking about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir about 2-3 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Add cheddar; stir until melted. Remove from heat.

Place bread in a single layer on the Large Bar Pan. Cover bread slices evenly with turkey, cheese sauce (about 3 tbsp/45 mL per sandwich), and tomato. Cut bacon slices in half, place on sandwiches in a “criss-cross” fashion; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake 15-18 minutes or until heated through and Parmesan cheese is light golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley.
Kristi stays busy with her writing, shoe designing and Pampered Chef business so she knows how precious time can be; she also knows how important eating healthy and showing your children life beyond fast food can be. The Pampered Chefs Happy Families segment is designed with busy lives in mind. The recipes presented will be fast, easy and affordable to everyone. The tools you need to complete these meals can be found on her personal website.

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