Comfort food...Crawfish Pasta Casserole!

This is a family favorite that I discovered within my Southern Living recipe book! Whenever I long to eat crawfish, I look this up and it becomes "what's for dinner"!   I promise you that if you try it you will love it!

7 ounces medium egg noodles, uncooked

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

1 celery rib, chopped

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup half-n-half

1 (16 ounce) loaf pasteurized prepared cheese product, cubed

1 pound frozen, peeled, cooked crawfish tails, thawed and drained

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

1 cup round buttery cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, and set aside.

2.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add bell pepper and next 4 ingredients; cook 10 minutes or until tender. Gradually add flour, stirring until well blended, and cook 1 minute.  Gradually add half-and-half, stirring until smooth.  Add cheese cubes, crawfish, and parsley; reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 3 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring constantly.  Stir together pasta and crawfish mixture in a lightly greased 11x7 inch baking dish.

3.    Combine Parmesan cheese, cracker crumbs, and 2 tablespoons melted butter in a small bowl.

 Sprinkle over casserole.

4.  Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until casserole is thoroughly heated.