The Epicure's Almanac or Diary of Good Living
October 27th : WHITE SAUCE
Put a pound of veal, and a quarter of a pound of the lean of dressed ham, into a stewpan, with an ounce of butter; let the fire be very low, and be careful that the meat does not burn; as soon as itis quite warm, mix, in a pint and a half of water, two table-spoonfuls of flour; add this, beating it up quite smooth; put in also a small onion, a tea-spoonful of mixed powdered mace, bruised cloves, and Cayenne pepper, a table spoonful of mushroom powder, the leaves of four sprigs of parsley, and two of thyme; let all simmer gently for two hours; the sauce should by this time be reduced to a pint; strain through a coarse sieve, take the fat off when cold, and warm it up again for use with half a pint of cream,
This is called by French cooks Bechamel.