The patriarchs did not think it through properly when women were declared the fairer sex and relegated to the kitchen where we could perform lightweight tasks like cooking.

I am a lightweight, unable to lift objects that people smaller than me can lift with ease. Yet I have just sweated through the most strenuous white sauce recipe. It was this unexpected exertion that made me think I should share my thoughts (and white sauce recipe) that the patriarchs had no idea what they were doing when they lay the foundation for sexist stereotypes. Some of the heaviest work happens in the kitchen and if light tasks are reserved for women, then the kitchen should be populated by men.

If you would like to know exactly what I am talking about, here is the recipe for the white sauce:

IINGREDIENTS
750ml / 3 cups milk
1 bay leaf
1 fresh thyme sprig
50g / .25 cups butter
50g / .5 cups plain flour
nutmeg

METHOD
Put the milk in a saucepan. Make a tear in the bay leaf, then add the leaf and thyme sprig to the milk. Bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and leave to infuse.
Once it’s cool, strain the milk to remove the bay leaf and the thyme sprig. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, add the flour and cook, stirring for 1 – 2 minutes.
Add the milk a little at a time, whisking vigorously after each addition. Bring to the boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is smooth and thick. grate in a little nutmeg to taste and season with salt and pepper. Whisk well, then remove from the heat.

White sauce

White sauce

The source of the sauce: ‘The Pasta Bible’ by Jeni Wright.