Basic White Sauce

Basic white sauce is the mainstay of many delicious sauces for a savy cook.You do not have to be a savy cook however to make this very easy sauce base. Once made you can refridgerate it for use another time. (it will keep tightly covered in the back coldest part of your fridge for 2 weeks)

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 dash white pepper

1 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk.Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Use immediately or refrigerate.

Suggested uses:

Cheese Sauce: To the hot basic white sauce, add 1/2 cup of your favorite grated cheese (or a combination of several cheeses equalling 1/2 cup.)

Mustard Sauce: Add 2 Tblsp of brown spicy mustard to the sauce,stir well.
(More if you desire a stronger mustard taste)

White Wine Sauce: Substitute the milk for 1 cup white wine, and add 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley. Perfect for pouring over chicken.

Creamy Garlic Sauce: Add 1 tsp chopped fresh garlic and 1 tsp freshly chopped parsley. Salt and pepper to taste.

Creamy Alfredo Sauce: Substitute 1/2 the milk with 1/2 cup chicken broth, add 1/4 cup romano cheese and 4 oz cream cheese, cubed.

Olive Garden Lasagna - Copy Cat Recipe

Alfredo Sauce:
1/2 lb. sweet or salted butter
12 oz. heavy cream
Fresh ground white pepper
1 1/2 cups fresh Parmesan, grated

Ricotta Cheese Mix:
1 pint Ricotta cheese
2 oz. Romano, grated
3 oz. Mozzarella, shredded
2 tbls. green onions, sliced
2 teas. fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 teas. salt
1/8 teas. black pepper
1/4 teas. dried basil
1/4 teas. dried oregano
1 1/4 cups Alfredo sauce, cooled

Vegetable Mix:
4 cups broccoli florets
2 cups carrots, sliced 1/4"
4 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced 1/4"
2 cups red bell peppers, diced
1 cup green bell pepper, diced
1 cup yellow onion, diced
2 cups zucchini, sliced
Lasagna noodles
18 slices Mozzarella cheese, 1/2 oz. each

Lay out enough dry lasagna strips in a 9x13 pan to ensure you have enough to make 3 full layers, with very little overlap on each layer. Remove the dry strips and cook according to package instructions until barely "al dente" and drain.

ALFREDO SAUCE: Heat water to a boil in the bottom of a double boiler. Add butter, cream and pepper to the top pot and heat until butter is completely melted, then stir in Parmesan until melted and blended. Remove top pot and set aside to cool. Divide the sauce into 2 equal portions. Refrigerate 1 portion for use later.

RICOTTA CHEESE MIX: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and blend thoroughly with a rubber spatula. Set aside at room temp.

VEGETABLES: Combine all veggies and mix well.

ASSEMBLY: Coat the bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish with vegetable spray. Lay out cooked lasagna strips (about 4) to cover entire bottom.

Spread 1−1/4 c of the Ricotta mix evenly over the strips. Top with 8 c of veggie mix and spread out evenly. Lay out 9 of the mozzarella slices to cover the veggie layer. Repeat this layering. Top the second layer of mozzarella slices with lasagna strips and
spread them evenly with 1−1/4 c ricotta cheese mix to finish.

COOKING: Spray a sheet of foil with vegetable spray and cover the baking dish tightly with the foil, sprayed side down. Bake in a preheated 375F oven for about
an hour or until the internal temp is 165F. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for a few minutes, covered, before cutting and serving. Immediately prior to serving, heat the reserved portion of Alfredo Sauce and ladle the hot sauce over each slice of lasagna as it is served.

Cool Colorful Multi Bowl Set - Avon

Shaped like a bright, colorful flower, this 12-pc. bowl set (including lids) is a perfect accessory to home entertaining, indoors and out. Great for dipping veggies, chips, and more. Use center bowl for sauces and dips and outer bowls for veggies, chips & more! Dishwasher and microwave safe. Center bowl, 3" H x 5 1/2" diam. Outer bowls, 3" H x 7" W. Plastic.

Exclusively at Avon.

Click Picture to Purchase!