White sauce and corned beef in a black out

So not that long ago, due to my own loose lips, I found myself faced with a kitchen challenge. We had found ourselves stranded by a power loss - again - so had been rescued by a friends kind offer of dinner at theirs. Corned beef with cauliflower and broccoli was on the menu.

As we had no power at our place and sunlight was quickly waning I tried to think of something I could take over for dessert that didn't need an oven. Bolied English jam pudding - easy - I can put that together by torch light easily and we have gas cook tops. Done. Now, are you thinking this was my kitchen challenge? Well, no it wasn't. That was to come.

I find myself in the warm country kitchen in Gruyere, pudding boiling away to finish off it's cook and stay warm, thinking how lucky we were when the talk turned to white cheese sauce for the cauliflower and broccoli. Our divine hosts love food but don't see themselves as cooks. We have served them white sauce on corned beef quite a few times before so of course I say – “No problem, I can do that for you.”

White cheese sauce should be easy you say. Well, it would be if you had made it in the last decade! All of a sudden I am overwhelmed with the realisation – I don’t make flour, butter, milk white sauce. I have never made it! My husband did quite a few years ago and it was always made in quantities larger than we needed.

So there I was cooking flour and butter down until it browned a little, adding milk, looking for cheese and mustard thinking – “Gee, I hope this is right”. The most important thing was to cook out the flour – right?

Well …. Upon reflection the thick doughy thing that was spread across the vegies and people smiled and ate only increased my love of those at the table. It did nothing to reignite a love of white flour sauces.

The sauce we do at home as a white sauce is actually based upon cauliflower, milk, mustard and seasoning. That’s it. Easy to do, yummy to eat and light on the tummy.

CHEATS LIGHT TASTY WHITE SAUCE

Chop your cauliflower very finely (this allows it to cook quickly)

Pour enough milk over to cover

Simmer until fine pieces are soft

Place in blender and add cheese (to taste), mustard and seasoning.

Blend to a smooth, thick, but runny enough to pour consistency.

Check it’s seasoned correctly – adjust – then pour over your food.

This is my recommended white cheesy mustard sauce to enjoy with corned beef. It is light, tasty and people always comment on how lovely it is. Unfortunately they also think it traditional white sauce - and in the heat of the kitchen - so can I!!