Macaroni cheese - help me make a tasty one, please!

[FLIER]

I'm not too bad a cook, but the one thing i am always disappointed with is macatoni cheese!
It always seems so bland, not sure if its the type of cheese I use, or what, so who can help me out with a good recipe? Please?

anyone?

Put a spoonful of ketchup in the cheese sauce (sounds vile but is delish).

And scatter some breadcrumbs on top, mixed with grated cheese.

Mmmmm

I use Delia Smith's recipe. Can't remember the quantities, but it's just flour, butter, milk, mustard powder and cheese. The mustard powder does make a difference and I always use very mature cheddar - and more than the recipe recommends.

Try putting a tin of tomatoes into the white sauce.

Fry up some lardons and add these to the dish. Aslo add a couple of chopped up hard boiled eggs. Add a teaspoon of mustard and a generous pinch of nutmeg to the cheese sauce. Use a good strong mature cheddar and top with melted cheese and breadcrumbs nefore putting it in the oven.

english mustard and strong cheddar makes a big difference.

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thanks will try some mustard powder tonight. Loathe to add tinned tomatoes or ketchup, as these seem to be in everything I make these days!, and there's nothing so good as a basic, tasty macaroni cheese!

thanks all.

super mature cheddar and loads of it. You can practically get through a whole packet. If it's still not pungent enough try some parmesan too.

i second the parmisan.. and extra cheese ontop to grill till its all nice and bubbled and browned... i would probably add some garlic or a tad bit of garlic salt and a sprinke of oregano for good measure..

I put curry powder (to your taste) in the cheese sauce. Also some red and green peppers chopped up small and sauteed until softened and added to the cheese sauce too is nice.

oh I never make cheese sauce either i just grate a bunch of cheese and mix it with the pasta and a tub of cream fraiche and then sprinkle more cheese on top... always seems to work out and no fafing about with making a white sauce.

keep the sauce light,wet & non claggy....use creme fraiche....a little onion or spring onion/chives cuts through the richness....a little strong cheese or a mix of cheddar/parmesan/talleggio rather than loads of mild cheese

well, i tried it with creme fraiche, parmesan and some powdered mustard and it was much tastier than normal!
I just used some cheap pregrated strong cheddar from the local shop, so it will be much tastier again next time, when I use decent cheese!

thanks all for replying