KIELBASA AND APPLE PASTA BAKE

Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Bake: at 350 degrees for 40 minutes

1 pound rigatoni
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart milk
1 block (10 ounces) extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (3 cups)
1 teaspoon hot-pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 package fully-cooked kielbasa (14 ounces) sliced into 1/4 inch thick coins
3 Fuji apples, cored and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 scallions, thinly sliced

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat oval 10-cup baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In large deep pot of lightly salted boiling water, cook rigatoni until al dente, firm but tender, following package directions. Drain.
3. Meanwhile, in large heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in flour; cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to boiling, stirring continuously; boil until thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
4. Set aside 1 cup cheese for topping the casserole. Stir the remaining 2 cups of cheese, the hot-pepper sauce and salt into mil mixture until smooth.
5. In pasta cooking pot, toss together pasta, cheese sauce, kielbasa and apples. Spoon into prepared baking dish, mounding slightly. Cover.
6. Bake in 350 degree oven, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover. Stir rigatoni mixture. Sprinkle top with reserved cheese and the scallions. Bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Casserole Prep Steps:
1. Stir milk into onion-flour mixture. boil, stirring, until thickened, 1 minute.
2. Stir 2 cups of the shredded cheese into the milk mixture and stir until melted.
3. fold together pasta, cheese sauce, apples and kielbasa. Spoon into baking dish.