Anyone got a really tasty macaroni cheese recipe?

[StuckUpTheFezziwigTree]

I right fancy one. But I want a more deluxe version. Had one in the work restaurant recently and god, it was so bland.

make a roux, add milk to quantity, add tons of strong cheddar, add some ground black pepper, add wholegrain (or other) mustard - gorgeous! the mustard gives it that secret ingredient factor. :)

about a teaspoon of mustard (ready made up that is not powder!)

There's a really nice delia one. I think it's souffle mac cheese. It has something like 4 cheeses in and is baked. Very nice.

Avoid bland by using a strong cheddar. If you use a medium block cheddar (e.g. Cathedral City) you will not get a really cheesy flavour.
A very light dusting of cayenne pepper on the top also helps.

Oo thanks all, my mouth is watering now!

bacon lardons and cherry tomatoes.
And second nice strong cheddar.

Add pancetta.

Heston did one on his series that looked delish. Think its on the channel 4 website. It was made with chicken stock and wine.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/glam_mac_and_cheese_92848

lorraine pascales one looks good.

I sometimes find it a bit sickily. I did the Lorraine Pascal Glam cheese one with a mix of cheeses including the dolcelatte but again that tang in the mouth is a tad sickily.

The quality and shape of the pasta also effects the eating quality. Get the best pasta not the basic macaroni.

I'm still searching for the ultimate too.

Pick mine pick mine!

Hestons is lovely, a little faffy and I skipped the truffle oil and used gruyere.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/macaroni-cheese Jaimie's version is particularly nice

Like all the others said, loads of really strong cheddar, couple of spoons of mustard, crispy bacon bits, halved cherry tomatoes and I like peas in it too. Then under the grill till crispy on the top

I cook some leek in the butter before adding the flour for the sauce. Sometimes with garlic, sweetcorn and petit pois (not marble peas).

Try ringing the changes and use Applewood instead of cheddar.

I just have just finished my version of macaroni and cheese. I fry leeks, garlic and chopped up brocoli, make a cheese sauce with mature chedder and add some mustard like Ginpalace, boil up some pasta and mix altogether, top with a bit more cheese and grill until golden brown.

Other version is without the leeks and brocoli, I top it with slice tomato and grill.

I grate courgette into mine too (I peel them first so kids can't spot the green skin!).

Smitten Kitchen updated the Martha Stewart recipe and it is lush. She tops it with tiny cubes of bread soaked in melted butter.

Behold the cheesiness!

I've done the Lorraine Pascale one and agree that it is a bit sickly and really too rich (and I can eat three creme eggs without batting an eyelid). Her idea of adding spring onions and pancetta is fab though, so I'd use less dolcelatte and maybe add sme cheddar or something instead, and it definitely doesn't need the cream.

Delia's macaroni souffle is amazing! Not really a traditional mac and cheese but it is lovely. I haven't made it for ages as it uses small amounts of lots of different cheeses so it always seems expensive if you have to but big blocks of all of them -but I think the time might have come to do it again!!!

Macaroni souffle is on my meal plan for next week - thank you alicehurled, I'd forgotten about it!!!

Glad to be of service Can you make me done too please?

Some not done

Do not make the one in Nigella's express book . It was ridiculously sweet and ended up uneaten in the bin.

Funny, I read the thread as 'particularly nasty macaroni cheese recipe...I was going to suggest any tinned version!

I think you should experiment with good strong cheeses, and perhaps something stretchy for fun? And I rather like a crunchy topping with breadrumbs and cheese...mmmmm

I just like adding seasoning salt with it! :))