A velvety white sauce or Béchamel is one of the secrets of a competent cook. Béchamel will drape casually over vegetables, mashed potatoes, or fish. Whisk it slowly and carefully, as though you had all the time in the world. It is the base for many sauces and is used in many different recipes, such as Lasagna, Creamed Chipped Beef (SOS), Étouffée, Cheese Sauce, and Chicken Gravy among others.Getting this down is critical to all good cooks.