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Cream Sauce

Source of Recipe

From "Crazy for Casseroles" by James Villas


List of Ingredients

â—¦ ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
â—¦ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
â—¦ 1 cup milk
â—¦ 1 cup half-and-half
â—¦ Salt to taste


Recipe

In a medium-size heavy saucepan, melt the butter over low heat, gradually add the flour, and whisk till the mixture is foamy, about 3 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and gradually add the milk and half-and-half, whisking constantly till smooth. Season with salt, return the pan to moderate heat, and cook, whisking constantly, till thickened, about 5 minutes. (For a thinner sauce, add a little more milk.)

• Mushroom Cream Sauce:
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over moderate heat, add 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms, and cook, stirring, till the mushroom liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the cream sauce before it has thickened, adding a little more milk before the final whisking.

Makes 2 cups