The chicory Remove the hard part at the bottom of the chicory stalks. Cut a notch, so that no leaves come loose.
Cook the chicory on medium heat together with a piece of butter and some water.
Let it cool down and squeeze out the moisture.
Then melt another piece of butter in a pan over a low heat. Fry the chicory stalks until they turn golden brown. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and a pinch of sugar.
Take the chicory out of the pan and roll it in the slices of cooked ham.
Place the stumps in the baking dish.

The cheese sauce The base of the sauce is a roux.
Melt 30 gr. butter in a pan and add the flour while stirring. As soon as it smells like biscuit, add the milk. Keep stirring patiently until the sauce thickens. If necessary, add some extra milk to thin the sauce. Remove the pan from the heat and mix a handful grated cheese into the sauce. Squeeze half a lemon and season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Finish the dish in the oven Pour the cheese sauce over the chicory stalks until they are completely covered. Sprinkle the remainder of the grated cheese over the dish. Place the dish in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes or until a golden yellow crust appears.

Mashed potatoes Peel the potatoes and boil them in salted water. Drain and let the rest of the water evaporate over a low heat. Mash the potatoes and add the butter, the egg yolk and a splash of milk. Stir and season it with freshly grated nutmeg and some salt.