Creamy Crab Bake

I just love the look of this dish - and oh, the flavor! Succulent crab meat, sauteed vegetables, and angel hair noodles come together with a delicate sauce to make this exquisite meal. The flavors are so complex, but you'll be surprised at how fairly easy it is to prepare. Try it out, and please be sure to let me know what you think. 
  
 Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked Angel Hair Noodles
• 2 cups chopped Crab Meat (real or imitation)
• 1/2 Onion, diced
• 1 Celery stalk, diced
• 1 cup chopped fresh Mushrooms
• 4 Tbs Butter, divided
• 2 Tbs Lemon Juice
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Seasoning Blend
• Cajun Seasoning (optional)
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

For the Sauce:

• 3 Tbs Butter
• 2 Tbs Flour
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 tsp prepared Dijon Mustard 
• 1/2 cup shredded Italian Cheese Blend
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

Topping:

• 1 cup French Fried Onions, crushed

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9 x 13 baking pan by spraying it with a light coat of cooking spray.
• Cook your pasta according to the package directions. You'll want to end up with about 2 cups of cooked noodles.
• In a medium skillet, melt 2 of the tablespoons of butter. Season the diced onion and celery with salt and pepper, and saute, until the onions are translucent. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta, sauteed celery and onion, mushrooms, lemon juice, and chopped crab meat.
• Pour this mixture into your prepared baking pan.
• Season on top with salt, pepper, and garlic seasoning blend to taste. Sprinkle desired amount of Cajun seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes on top of that, if using. (Don't worry about mixing it in, the sauce will do that for you.)

To make the sauce:

• Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until it thickens and bubbles, then mix in the milk and mustard. Continue to whisk until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
• Begin adding in the cheese one handful at a time, whisking continuously until melted, before adding in the next handful. 
• Once all the cheese is added and melted, pour the mixture over the top of your dish. 
• Thinly slice the last two tablespoons of butter and scatter around on top of the casserole. 
• Bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes, or until the edges bubble up.

Top it off:

• Add the crushed french fried onions to the top, and return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes to brown. 

Serves 6

Enjoy!