bechamel sauce

4 tbsp unsalted butter 3 tbsp unbleached flour 1 1/2 cups milk pinch paprika pinch ground nutmeg salt and ground white pepper, to taste

melt butter in heavy sauce pan; add flour; stir 3 minutes over low heat; raise heat to medium; add milk; stir constantly

whisk 5 minutes until sauce thickens; add paprika, nutmeg, salt, pepper; stir

source: New Basics (needed for their lasagna)