Do you like macaroni cheese?

[ClaireDeLoon]

Because, and I admit this may be odd, I've never actually tasted it. It was something my mother frowned upon when we were growing up.

But DP likes it.

So I thought I would try making some. Does anyone have a nice recipe?

I like it.

Some people of our parents' age don't like it because when they were kids, macaroni was used in sweet puddings. So they find it bizarre that it is now part of a savoury main dish.

yes, I like it but I try not to eat it because it's so high fat.

However, as a child I loathed it. I only started to like it when the DCs were born.

Oooh, its my most favourite comfort food!
I like it plain, Macaroni, a good cheese sauce, mix together in an oven dish, cover with grated chees and bake, Yum!

Yes but haven't had it for years.

It is lovely .

Although I didn't have it until after I met DH; before then macaroni cheese meant the stuff out of a tin . No idea why my mum never made it.

I only like my own

You need:
macaroni and cheese sauce
cheese sauce (usual sauce method) - butter, plain flour, to make a roux, gradually add milk, simmer then add grated cheese.
Pour over macaroni in ovenproof dish, sprinkle cheese on top and little bits of bread for added crunch(optional) and stick under the grill to go golden brown or bake.

I refused to eat it growing up as my wee brother insisted my Mum make it without cheese. I know.

I've regarded it with disdain ever since.

My mother used to make fabulous macaroni cheese from a sepia covered New Zealand Cheese Board recipe leaflet from the 1930s. Plastered over the front was a notice saying something to the effect that they were still handing out the leaflet though because of war time restrictions it might not be possible to make the recipes - 1 ounce cheese per week wouldn't be much use!
It needs - macaroni (always seems better than other pasta in this dish); good cheesy sauce made with fairly strong cheddar and some English mustard; tomato slices and more cheese on the top. Bake until golden on top.

Do I cook the macaroni first? (I apologise if this is a thickie question and I am a good cook honestly I just never make pasta bake type stuff).

And cheddar is fine? I don't need parmesan?

I will have a try at making for a weekend lunch.

With a nice green salad?

oops and i forgot to say thanks

Yes, cook the macaroni first! And cheddar is essential, never parmesan!

Salad sounds good.

Love macaroni cheese.

Make cheese sauce (butter, flour, milk, bay leaf, salt, pepper, cheddar or other hard cheese like red leicester - not parmesan). I'll assume you know the method to do this.

Cook macaroni separately.

Mix. I like a thick cheese sauce but sometimes add extra milk at this point to get the consistency just right, and heat through.

Put cheese on top, grill.

Eat

Variations: under the cheese on top put sliced tomatoes; add some grated nutmeg to the cheese sauce; fry a teaspoon of cumin seeds in the butter while making the cheese sauce - awesome!; mix breadcrumbs or pumpkin seeds with the cheese on top.

My MIL used to beat an egg and pour it over the top mixed with grated cheese - made a really crispy tasty topping - but obviously it was cholesterol-city.

For some reason my mum hates it too, but I like it. My variation involves adding bacon or ham (MIL adds Frankfurters), tomatoes and spring onions. Crunchy top is a must with my family too.

no hate it its horrible boak !!

I make a slightly lower fat version. Instead of just cheddar I use v strong cheddar but less, then a bit of parmesan as it tastes stronger and you then need less. Less cheese = less fat overall but with the parmesan tis still v tasty.

Macaroni cheese in a tin is a bit like vomit gluey in texture imo.

My kids love it and I often add green veggies (i.e peas/broccoli/green beans) to the macaroni and then cover with cheese sauce and bake for a more substantial meal. Fab with crusty bread and salad.

I know this makes it more of a veggie pasta bake than macaroni cheese but DD will eat virtually any veg if its smothered in cheesy sauce so too good an opportunity to miss!

Oh, agree with PlanetEarth about grated nutmeg, always put it in mine.

One of my standby cheap meals as a student. We did the version with sliced tomatoes on the top. Great comfort food. I am now known to eat it in ready-meal form or even the tinned stuff if on my own, really cannot be bothered etc, but making your own gives you a nice comforting dish. Also, you can often add in leftovers (bits of cooked meat, veg etc) if you want to use them up.

PMSL at your Mum "frowning on" macaroni cheese, Claire.

Am trying to think of what my DCs will say I "frowned on."

KurriKurri - one egg will not make that much of a difference to the cholesterol!

I put Worcester Sauce in my cheese sauce and a few drips on the cheesey top before cooking.

That could be a thread in itself - what do you frown upon

I think my mum maybe tried a tin of it once and hated it. She's very much a cook from scratch, will try most things type person so I always assumed macaroni cheese must be really vile if she hated it so.

Now Kraft hove bought Cadburys do we now have to fear the arrival of their macaroni cheese

Well I just searched macaroni on ocado to add some to my shop to make it and

scroll down

I think it's already here.

Not really.
Dd LOVES it but not cooked to the baked stage. Just the pasta and cheese sauce . She calls it cheesy pasta.

Macaroni chees is the food of the gods - but it must be homemade with lots of strong cheddar and baked until cripsy.

For a posh version add cripsy bacon, and even a little white wine in the sauce.

Yum - I think I'll cook some this weekend.