Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2  cup           butter
     1/2  cup           onion -- minced
   2      tablespoons   all-purpose flour
   1      cup           milk -- scalded
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
   1      dash          white pepper
     1/4  cup           sherry
  12      ounces        crab meat
   1      cup           crackers -- finely crumbled
     1/2  cup           cheddar cheese -- finely grated

Preparation:

Crumble crackers between waxed paper with a rolling pin. Reserve just enough crumbs and cheese to top the casserole. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large heavy skillet. Add onion and saut‚ for about 5 minutes or until golden. Slowly add flour, stirring constantly over low heat. When flour is blended, gradually add hot milk (scalded) and blend with a whip. Continue stirring over low heat until the sauce begins to thicken. Add salt, pepper, and sherry, and continue stirring In a bowl, mix crab meat, sauce, and the extra cracker crumbs and cheese. Place in a lightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle reserved cracker crumbs and cheese on the top of the casserole. Dot the top with the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Bake uncovered at 350øF for about 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.