Classic Cheese Sauce

1. In a 2 ½-quart sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter and mix in flour. Stir and blend until flour is cooked, but do not allow the mixture to brown.
2. Pour milk into a glass measuring cup or large glass bowl. Microwave milk in 60-second increments until milk is steaming but not hot, stirring the milk between rounds. Carefully remove milk from microwave with oven mitts.
3. Working with a wire whisk, add the warmed milk, ½ cup at a time, blending thoroughly before adding the next ½ cup portion. Continue stirring until all the milk has been added and the sauce is beginning to develop a slow, lazy bubble.
4. Turn the heat off and add cheese in 2 batches. Stir the sauce to achieve a smooth consistency.
5. Serve over vegetables, grilled chicken breast, fish or shrimp.

Nutrition information calculated with 1% milk