Thickening sauce

To thicken a sauce or gravy or stew: Put 2 tablespoons or so of cornstarch in a cup or bowl, add ¼ cup or so of water (or of the too-thin gravy), stir to dissolve, then drizzle it into the sauce, gravy or stew; stir and cook another minute or two. (It will thicken more off heat, but if necessary, do it again.)