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1
Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Cover a baking pan or cookie sheet with foil (for easy cleanup).
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2
Drizzle the olive oil over the mushrooms and asparagus and gently toss to coat them.
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3
Put the mushrooms in the center of the pan; arrange the asparagus on both sides of the mushrooms with tips pointing in both directions on both sides of the mushrooms; reserve the tomatoes at this point.
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4
Bake the mushrooms and asparagus in the oven for about 15-20 minutes.
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5
Scatter the tomatoes over top of asparagus; drizzling a touch of olive oil over the top of the tomatoes.
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6
Sprinkle a touch of sea salt over top of tomatoes and asparagus and bake for approximately another 10 minutes. Make sure to check your asparagus and mushrooms to desired tenderness.
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7
For the sauce:
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8
Pour the milk into a medium sized saucepan.
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9
Make an 'ornament' with the onion, bay leaf and clove by using the clove to pierce the bay leaf and then poke the bay leaf into the onion; add your 'ornament' to the milk in the saucepan.
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10
Warm the milk gently over low heat, to infuse the flavors, until it just begins to boil; cover and let rest for about 15 minutes or so while you follow the next step.
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11
In another medium saucepan melt the butter over low heat; mix in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes stirring constantly.
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12
Add the milk to the butter/flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time; cook and stir until all the milk has been added.
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13
For a stronger flavor in your sauce you can add the onion from the milk mixture at this point.
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14
Cook over low heat until thick, about 20-25 minutes; stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn on the bottom.
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15
Once the sauce has thickened remove the onion, and add salt and pepper to taste; leaving the sauce over very low heat.
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16
Stir in the cream (if using) to give a silky texture to the sauce. You don't have to use it all depending on the thickness of your sauce; keeping in mind the cheese will also thicken the sauce further.
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17
Add the mustard and cheese to the sauce until the cheese is melted; BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LET BOIL!. The cheese will separate and it will not look appealing.
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18
Drizzle the Cheese Sauce over top of the baked vegetables and serve.