how to make cheese sauce?

[tortoise]

Probably a really thick,basic question but need recipe for cheese sauce instead of using granules like i normally do!TIA

This is how I do it (and am crap at cooking so it must be easy!!)

Big blob of butter or marg in the pan - melt it.

Add a tablespoon of plain flour and mix it in to the butter. Low heat, stir continuously until the flour is cooked. It will look a lot more shiny (if you're not sure, about two mins will do it).

Add in the milk, a tiny bit at a time, stirring well.

Once it is getting kinda runny, you can add more milk in until you have enough. Heat gently so it thickens up nicely.

Grate your cheese (I do it on a fine grate) and plonk it in, stir.

Bingo!

Have a google, or try BBC website and search.

In simple terms you need milk, cornflour, butter, a little seasoning and cheese. Put in to some sensical order and hey presto....now what that exact order is I can't remember. Sorry, no help!

Thanks.Could do with amounts for ingredients! Will try and google it.Im such a crap cook!

I recall,...
half pint milk
1oz of butter (or marg)
4 tsp cornflour (or flour)
2oz cheese

Put the cornflour (or flour) into a basin, mix it into a runny paste with 2 tbsp of the milk.

Boil rest of milk in saucepan and pour it onto well-stirred flour mixture, stirring all the time.

Pour mixture back into saucepan, return to heat and bring to boil, stirring all the time until sauce thickens. Beat in butter (or marg) and add cheese, keep stirring til cheese melted then it's done.

This makes enough to cover a lasagne, for less just halve the portions.

Enjoy....

delia's all in one cheese sauce
never goes wrong
will find a link

NB. if sauce not thick enough just add a little cornflour at a time until required consistency

Thanks ccm.Thats brilliant.Just hope dd1 and dd2 like pasta now.Hated it when 1st gave it to them!

cant find the one i use

pretty sure it is 3/4 pint of milk then 1oz of plain flour and 1 oz of butter

stick all in pan
stir with a whisk until it thinkcen (low heat)
then once it starts bubbling, leaveit on low heat for 5 mins, stirring frequently

\link{http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/all-in-one-white-sauce,1009,RC.html\this is the one}

my amounts were slightly out...

agree with popsy - idiot proof. Just make sure all the ingredients go in cold before setting on heat. Use as much cheese as you need according to taste. The more mature the cheese, the less you need.

Thanks all.Off to make it now.Will let you know how it goes!

I must say that does look simple! My recipe is from dh's student cook book which must be 20 years old...

It really is simple CCM - I never do it any other way now - I used to spend ages making a roux and stirring for England, but this method gives equally good results!

I agree - idiot proof. I am the proof that anyone can make cheese sauce. My mum used to roll her eyes at me when I talked about packet cheese sauce and say "but it's so easy", but actually she's right and it doesn't taste like wallpaper paste.

May be idiot proof but its not tortoise proof!!! Did burn bit to bottom opf pan .But it tastes ok and was very easy.DD1 seems to be loving it.DD2 wont touch! All i get is "no like it!!" Thanks for all your help.

the heat has to be low....and i check the base of the pan and take it off the heat for a bit aswell.....

I will know for next time! my excuse is that DD2 distracted me having a screaming fit!! Heat was at its lowest though.