Cheese and ham toasties recipe

This is a modern, French-inspired version of the classic English tea-time favourite of cheese on toast. The homemade garlic butter and the baguettes give this dish a little continental ooh la la, and the cheese and ham makes a delicious topping. This will help line your stomach before you go out on the town with your mates, or is a lovely simple supper to have on the sofa in front of the TV.

Ingredients

• 50g butter, softened
• 1 large clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 2tbsp freshly chopped parsley
• 2 bake at home white baguettes
• 100g sliced cooked ham, cubed
• 150g Cheddar cheese, grated
• Extra freshly chopped parsley to garnish

Method

1. To make the garlic butter, beat together the butter, garlic and parsley and keep at room temperature while cooking the baguettes.
2. Cook the baguettes according to instructions (usually 10-12 mins at 200°C/400°F/180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6). Remove from the oven and cut in half horizontally. Put each half on a roasting tin and spread with garlic butter. Sprinkle the ham and cheese evenly over the baguettes and bake for a further 10 mins or until the cheese is bubbling and starting to turn golden.
3. Serve garnished with freshly chopped parsley.