Macaroni Cheese.

[GreeenFingers]

I have to say that this is my favourite comfort food. I make it perhaps once a month, but with varying results. I've tried numerous recipes too, some quite good ( thank you auntie Delia)and some not so good( american recipe using equal weight dried pasta and cheese,too rich).
Do any of you have a macaroni cheese recipe you'd like to share?

Don't make it that often as DD doesn't like cheese. If I do, I don't really follow a recipe. Sometimes I add bacon, sometimes tomatoes on top, sometimes a bit of mustard powder.

I heave though when I hear it called mac n cheese.

I hate the term Mac''n cheese too.I add a bit of mustard to my sauce, I've also tried nutmeg, that was quite good.

I just make random quantities of cheese sauce and macaroni. Then mix til it looks right. ALWAYS put halved cherry tomatoes on top. Yummy. Serve with bacon on the side and peas.

Don't have a recipe as such its all just thrown together.
Melted butter flour add milk/cream gtrated cheese and keep stiring.

Throw over some pasta. Breadcrumbs and cheese for topping into the grill. Sorted

My dc love peas and bacon in theirs.
Mmmm I'm hungry now. Might try Dorsets mustard tho yum.

I love it when it's gone cold and turned into a great slab of cheesy stodge.

I use leftover Gammon joint in mine. Plenty of pepper in the cheese sauce and topped with a breadcrumb and parmesan mix.

My variants:

teaspoon of cumin seeds in the butter as you're making the roux for the cheese sauce

nutmeg in cheese sauce as you do

sliced tomatoes then cheese on top

sunflower seeds mixed with the grated cheese before I sprinkle it on the top

I'm going to try the cumin seed as I love 'em. Have you tried adding caraway seeds, that works too.I have tried adding a chilli to the water when I'm cooking the pasta, that gives it a kick, but dont forget to remove the chilli afterwards

Not tried caraway seeds, will give it a go.

Got a waitrose ping ping macaroni cheese for tea tonight. At £1,59 it's cheaper than making one and daughter is at grandpaarents. I'm sure it will go down well woth £3.99 bottle of Hungarian wine, also waitrose and surprisingly good when chilled.

I've got a three cheese version here www.toddler-recipes.co.uk/quick-macaroni-cheese.html, goes down a treat with kids.

My cheese sauce is pretty rich as I use creme fraiche with the grated gruyere and a little dijon mustard, a splash of white wine and some garlic. I mix that with the macaroni and layer with slices of fried bacon. Then a topping of bread crumbs mixes with more grated cheese, salt and pepper.

I hadn't ever made it until a few weeks ago, and hadn't eaten it since pre school, but I loved it.

chopped cashews on top is nice.

I put pineapple and cherry tomatoes in mine, wired I know, but yummy!!!

Wired???? WEIRD!!!!

I'm always making typos, typing too fast and not checking what I've written, it all makes for a colourful discussion.
By they way all the recipes sound great, I'm veggie but I'm going to try using veggie bacon.

Steamed leeks or sauted spring onions, maybe some peas, and a good tbsp of grain mustard. And breadcrumbs AND seeds on top - yum!

A friend of mine used to substitute a little cider for some of the milk - but you have to be very careful as it may curdle - which gave it a good flavour.
Tomatoes on top definitely and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper to bring out the flavour some more!

Basic recipe, but throw in Stilton & spinach & top with pine nuts to get a toasting in the oven as it bakes - always a favourite around her :)

This the recipe I used, always turns out fab! recipe

My mum always used to make 'macaroni cheese with all the bits in' - some or all of: mushrooms, peppers, onion, sweetcorn, bacon bits, sausage chunks and topped with sliced tomato and more cheese. She always puts mustard in her cheese sauce too.