More Peas Please...

It can be a real challenge to get kids to eat veggies, especially peas.  This small little green vegetable is more likely to be used as a projectile, kicked off the plate with a flick of the fingers, rather than consumed.  I may have a way to change that!

White Sauce is a cream gravy base which is easy to make and extremely versatile to use in meal planning.  Mom taught me to make this and mix the peas into it and wow - peas get eaten and you might even hear the phrase "more peas please!"

White Sauce
You will need:
* 2 Tablespoons Butter
* 4 Tablespoons Flour
* 1 Cup Milk (whatever % you like)
* 1 Can Peas (drained)

Ok, people may tell you this is difficult because it is a form of gravy, but you can so do this - just follow these steps, give yourself a few more minutes than heating a veggie, and don't stop stirring!

Grab your trusty wire wisk.  In a saucepan over medium low heat, start melting your butter (you can use margarine but I simply prefer butter for this recipe) and add your flour - yes, before your

butter is finished melting.  Constantly wisk, stirring and cooking the flour, incorporating it as the butter melts.  When you have a paste mixture (still wisking), add half the milk.  Stir and combine, not forgetting the bits hiding in the corners of the pan.  The mixture will become pretty thick, and when it does, add the remaining milk and wisk some more.  This is the time to season with salt and pepper to taste.  Drain your peas and add them to the mixture, changing to a spoon rather than the wisk.  Continue to stir (easy though, so you don't smash the peas) as they heat. 

You can, and probably will want to, adapt this recipe to include some other favorites.  Leave out the peas and add sausage to make a gravy for your biscuits.  Use more, or less, milk to make your sauce the consistency you like.  Add lots of pepper to make a great cream, pepper gravy for a chicken fried steak. I like to add rosemary sometimes or add a pinch of chili powder.  Try adding other veggies, like corn, to make them creamed. For the classic comfort food, creamed (or chipped) beef on toast, just chop up the contents of a jar of dried beef to add to the basic cream gravy. Now that you know how to make this white sauce - you'll think of all sorts of ways you will want to include it on your menu.