The best mac & cheese recipe?

[mscongeniality]

Its cold and I'm craving a really good rich, indulgent, comforting mac and cheese and I want to know what your fav recipes are?

Well, I'm going to don my flameproof suit and say it has to have sliced tomatoes on the top and it absolutely has to be baked in the oven! I suppose grilling would do the job too, but having the golden brown chewy melted cheese on the top is just about the best bit. I mix the cooked pasta and cheese sauce in the baking dish, slice some large tomatoes (quicker and less fuss than slicing cherry tomatoes) and arrange slices on top of pasta, sprinkle very generously with a lot more grated cheese and bake. Glorious.

Also very good with any or all of the following added: fried leeks, fried mushrooms, fried/grilled bacon (or chopped ham).

Baking it in the oven is okay but I prefer grilling under the in-oven grill, because it stays saucier that way.

Tomatoes though, we will never agree on.

And there are few savoury meals which couldn't be improved by a liberal dose of fried or baked mushrooms imvho.

OP, have you ever tried Southern style mac and cheese? It's a staple for Thanksgiving Dinner in the South, especially among African Americans.

www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Southern-Style-Macaroni-and-Cheese

Macaroni cheese is one of those dishes I never get quite right - either I overdo it on the mustard or it's too dry, etc.

Given that, although I think a proper cheese sauce is nicer, I do a quick version which is basically cooked macaroni, creme fraiche, & grated cheese, mixed together & baked.

Mimi was really pleased with herself. She fluffed the meringue, Elena did the crumb and Matt the glaze. I felt a bit sorry for Elise going solo.

Sorry. Wrong thread.