• 2 cups of milk
• 1 clove of garlic
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 3/4 cup of grated cheese, preferably a strong cheese, such as old cheddar
• 1 tablespoon of your choice of mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat 2 cups of milk in a saucepan. Add a clove of garlic cruched with the side of a knife.
2. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a thick-bottomed saucepan. Add 3 tablespoons of white flour and mix. Let the mixture cook slowly for at least 3 minutes. Do not let it brown.
3. Remove the saucepan from the burner and weait for the mixture to stop bubbling. Add a few tablespoons of milk and stir with a spoon of whisk, removing all the lumps. Add remaining milk 1/4 cup at a time, stirring till smooth after each addition. If you add the garlic to the sauce at this point, don't forget to remove it later.
4. Put the saucepan back on a low-medium burner. Bring to a simmer and cook for at least 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you don't do this, the sauce will taste of flour.
5. Add the cheese and mustard to the sauce, and simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. The sauce can stay on a low burner for some time, and can be refrigerated and heated up again.

This is a versatile and easy sauce to make. My son perfected an original cheese béchamelle recipe by adding garlic and mustard. Use it on vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower, or on pasta.