Basic White Sauce and variations
a la Chenelle

2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
1 Cup milk

Melt butter over medium heat (be careful not to burn). Add flour to melted butter and stir to make paste. Add milk and stir. Continue to stir until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
Variations:
Alfredo Sauce: add ¼ c Parm. Or Romano cheese, 1/8 t nutmeg, ¼ t white pepper, ½ t garlic after the basic white sauce is thickened.
Cheese Sauce: add ¼ c cheddar cheese, salt/pepper to taste to thickened basic white sauce.
Creamy Pesto: ¼ c pesto sauce (cilantro or basil), 2 T. lemon juice added to thickened basic white.