Creamy Low-Fat Bechamel Sauce

[mos]

Creamy low-fat bechamel sauce
2 cups skim milk
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 tsp dried thyme
1 tbs finely minced onions
1 tsp safflower oil
1/4 white wine or vegetable stock
3 tbs unbleached white flour or whole-wheat pastry flour
in a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine milk, nutmeg, thyme and onions. Bring just to boiling point, remove pan from heat, cover and set aside for 10 min to allow flavors to blend. In a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, combine oil and wine or vegetable stock. Heat to simmering. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly for 3 min. Slowly add warm milk mixture and continue whisking. Sauce should thicken to the consistency of heavy cream. Serve hot. Makes 2 cups = 10 calories/tablespoon