Kentucky Hot Brown

Kentucky Hot Brown

8 slices of bacon

4 slices of turkey breast

4 slices of toast

4 slices of tomato

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup millk

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, parmesan cheese combination (I just use whatever I have on hand)

extra Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top

• Cook the bacon until crisp.
• To make the mornay sauce, in a saucepan, melt butter and add flour to make a paste. Add milk and stir constantly over medium high heat until sauce thickens. Add cheese and stir until well blended.
• Place toast in a baking pan placing a slice of turkey on each piece of toast.
• Pour cheese sauce over turkey and place a tomato slice in the center of each sandwich.
• Then put a piece of bacon on either side of the tomato.
• Place under the broiler until the cheese starts to bubble and begin to turn slightly brown.

The Hot Brown is a hot sandwich originally created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, by Fred K. Schmidt in 1926. When Tara came out to visit, she stayed at the Brown Hotel, and it was really fun to hear all about the history of this hotel and the creation of the Kentucky Hot Brown.

I first had this at Lynn's Paradise Cafe, one of our favorite restaurants while we lived in KY. Here's a couple of pictures of us the last time we were there (we flew out in 2005 just for Thunder Over Louisville). Will was only 4 months old. What a cutie pie!

I usually make these open face sandwiches (they're called sandwiches, but there's no way you want to eat this without utensils) every year after Thanksgiving time with our leftover turkey. Yummy, cheesy goodness! And it always reminds us of the good old KY days.