#1. Olive oil. What kind do you prefer to use?
We nearly always use Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil, bought at Sams.
#2. Meatballs. Do you make them from scratch, buy premade cooked or buy premade frozen?
It’s been a long time, but I make them from scratch.
#3. Do you use napkins at home? Paper or cloth?
Always paper. I don’t want more laundry to do! (I know it’s better to use cloth because it saves paper, but using paper napkins saves water…LOL)
#4. Share a recipe for a white sauce.
EASY RECIPE: Open a can of 98% fat free cream of chicken soup and dilute with milk. Add pepper (and a little butter if you want a buttery taste).
Here’s a recipe from foodnetwork.com that I want to try because I like the flavoring of bay leaf:
CLASSIC BECHAMEL: WHITE SAUCE RECIPE
- 1 cup milk
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- pinch of salt & pepper
- 2 garlic cloves crushed (I might try 1 garlic clove)
Barely heat the milk and 1 bay leaf. Melt butter over medium-low heat and add flour, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes. Do not brown! Add a little bit of the milk with a whisk, then add rest of milk a little at a time. Cook for 5 minutes and then add rest of seasonings.
Hi Charla, I also prefer making meatballs from scratch! Back at home we also prefer using paper napkins — save us water and time… I don’t fancy adding to my big pile of laundry!!
That bechamel sauce is what I use as base for mac and cheese and it’s delicious! After you make the sauce, just add cheese and pour over macaroni pasta and bake. Yummy!
I never thought of putting garlic in white sauce. I think that would be yummy with certain foods.
I use Bertolli too, both EV and light.
I’m the same way with the napkins – which is worse for the environment – extra laundry or extra trash? I’m an avid recycler; I cut myself slack on using paper napkins.