The document discusses the five mother sauces of cooking - Béchamel, Veloute, Espagnole, Hollandaise, and Tomato Sauce. It provides details on how each sauce is traditionally prepared, including necessary ingredients and cooking methods. Specifically, it explains that Béchamel is a white sauce made with a roux and milk, Veloute uses stock instead of milk, Espagnole is a brown sauce made with vegetables and stock, Hollandaise is an emulsion of butter and lemon, and Tomato Sauce is made from tomatoes and vegetables. Variations for each mother sauce are also listed.