Cheese's Baked Macaroni and Cheese

from allrecipes.com, submitted by glittergirl94, with a few changes

INGREDIENTS:

1 (16 ounce) package fully cooked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni 1/3 cup butter 1 small onion, chopped 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups milk 1 (10 ounce) package sharp Cheddar cheese, cubed salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 cup dry bread crumbs, or more as needed

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Cook and stir the cut-up kielbasa in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until heated through and beginning to brown. Remove the sausage from the skillet, and set aside.
2.	Fill a pan with lightly salted water, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
3.	Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
4.	Melt the butter in the skillet over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the chopped onion for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook and stir the butter, onion and flour for 2 to 3 minutes to make a roux, and remove from the heat. Whisk in the milk a little at a time, stirring constantly, until all the milk has been incorporated, and return to low heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer, and cook over low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, to finish cooking the flour. Whisk in the Cheddar cheese, a few cubes at a time, until all the cheese has been incorporated and the sauce is hot and smooth.
5.	Pour the macaroni into the cheese sauce, and stir to combine. Stir in the cooked kielbasa, salt, and pepper.
6.	Spoon the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the crumbs are brown and the casserole is bubbling. Let stand for 15 minutes after baking, to set before serving.

It might help you to know that 8 oz's of macaroni is equal to 1.5-2 cups.

I used 1/2 the onion and 1/2 the bread crumbs.  I might melt 3 tbsp of butter and then add the bread crumbs and then top the pasta with that before I bake it, if I make this again.  I made the mistake of putting the onions in the pan I had just heated the kielbasa in and it was too hot.  The onions were on the burned side and it really was the downfall of this dish for us.

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