Basic White Sauce

Ingredients

2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons flour
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Pour milk into a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil; remove from heat. In a second heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and cook, stirring, until well blended and bubbly (about 3 minutes); do not allow mixture to color. Reduce heat to medium-low and gradually add hot milk, stirring continuously. Season with salt and pepper and increase heat; cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened (about 5 minutes). Adjust seasoning.

Variations: Basic White Sauce for Fish, substitute fish stock or bottled clam juice for half of the milk; season with juice of 1 lemon. Basic White Sauce for Fowl, substitute chicken stock for half of the milk. Season with a dash of ground cinnamon, a dash of brandy, and 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest. Basic White Sauce for Vegetables, substitute chicken stock for half of the milk. Add juice of 1 lemon, a dash of crushed dried thyme, and [1/2] cup grated cheese of choice. Yield: 2 cups (serving size: 1 tablespoon).

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