Holiday Pearl Onions

Drop onions with skins left on in boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain onions; remove skins and set aside.

Melt butter over medium heat; add flour, stirring with a wire whisk until well blended. Heat half and half separately to just below boiling, then add to butter mixture and stir until smooth and thick.

Add 1/2 cup of the cheese, tarragon, salt and pepper.

Mix well.

Add onions; stir and transfer to buttered ovenproof dish.

Put remaining cheese over all and bake at 400° for 10 minutes.