Basic White Sauce

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup milk

2.   Blend flour into the melted butter.

3.   Add salt.

4.   Cook over low heat, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes. Cooking for this length of time will minimize 'flour' taste.

5.   Slowly add milk, stirring constantly.

6.   Continue cooking slowly until smooth and thickened.   

Notes:

For thin white sauce, follow the instructions above, but use 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of flour. Thin white sauce is used in cream soups.

For thick white sauce, follow the instructions above, but use 3 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of flour.

For cheese sauce:  Add 1/2 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese to basic recipe.  Serve over broccoli or cauliflower.

Broth, cream, or a combination may be used in place of the milk.

For cream soups, sauté 1/4  each onion and celery in butter before adding flour.   Add broccoli, mushrooms, chicken, clams, diced potatoes, cheese, etc.