Cheese Sauce From Scratch

Cheese sauce is surprisingly easy to make. It's basically a roux, a white sauce, with cheese stirred in. I like to brown my butter for a bit of extra flavour, and then pour the cheese sauce over broccoli. It's a great way to get kids -- or adults! -- to eat their veggies!

Step 1: Browning the Butter and Cooking the Flour

Cheese Sauce from Scratch

• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 3/4 c. milk
• 1 c. grated cheese

Brown your butter by melting it over a medium heat and then letting it bubble slightly until it turns brown. This makes it taste extra yummy!

Sprinkle the flour over the butter and whisk together. It should start to form a sort of dough. Let it cook for at least a minute, so that the flour cooks. You should see bubbles in the dough as it cooks.

Step 2: Adding the Milk in Two Parts

Once the butter and flour mixture is cooked, add in a 1/4 c. of milk and whisk until smooth. The consistency of the 'dough' will change dramatically.

Then add in the remaining half cup of milk and whisk until smooth.

We're adding the milk in two parts so that there won't be lumps in the finished sauce. (Now you know the secret to lump-free sauce!)

Step 3: Adding in the Cheese

Once the roux is done, you can add in the grated cheese. Stir until melted. Taste the sauce. You can add in some spice if you want. And...you're done!

Serve over steamed broccoli or baked potatoes. Boast about your new-found ability to not only make a roux, but to create a lump-free sauce!