How can I make my mac & cheese more interesting?

I am making Macaroni & Cheese, and I don't just want plain old mac and cheese. Is there anything I can do, that doesn't require too much work, to kick it up a notch?

2008-02-29T23:55:40Z

I tried to give everyone a thumbs up, but it didn't let me because I'm only on level 1. Those are great ideas everyone!

Linda W2008-02-29T23:55:45Z

Favorite Answer

I add things like sour cream or creme fresh to the milk when I mix it....or dried yellow mustard.....sauteed veggies are good also(onions,tomaotes,spinach,mushrooms)...and topping the whole thing with buttered bread crumbs with parmesan cheese is exceptional......also varying the cheeses......Kraft has an Easy Melts American variety that is good...but gueryere.....swiss...fontina...even blue cheese if you like ....are all good choices.....if you like ,eat....bacon,ham.....pancetta.....all add a smokey kick.

hating the imprints & the girl2008-03-01T00:00:50Z

Recipe created by Patti LaBelle

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni
8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Muenster cheese (I use domestic; it's milder)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mild Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup (8 ounces) Velveeta, cut into small cubes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a deep 2 1/2-quart casserole.

Bring the large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the oil, then the elbow macaroni, and cook until the macaroni is just tender, about 7 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain well. Return to the cooking pot.

In a small saucepan, melt eight tablespoons of the butter. Stir into the macaroni. In a large bowl, mix the Muenster, mild and sharp Cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheeses. To the macaroni, add the half-and-half, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, the cubed Velveeta, and the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the buttered casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and dot with the remaining one tablespoon of butter.

Bake until it's bubbling around the edges, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Found this recipe online, one of my faves.
And also, here's a great indulgence for the next day left-overs:

Next Day Mac and Cheese "Toast" Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Show: Good Eats
Episode: For Whom the Cheese Melts 2

Leftover baked macaroni and cheese, refrigerated for at least overnight
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 egg beaten with 2 ounces water
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Oil for deep frying, preheated to 375 degrees

Cut refrigerated macaroni and cheese into slices or bite size pieces.
Season the flour with salt, pepper and cayenne. Dredge each piece through the flour and gently tap off excess. Dip in the egg wash and then coat with the bread crumbs. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes so the crust can set. Very carefully drop into the oil and fry until golden brown. Remove to a baking sheet fitted with a rack and rest for 2 minutes before serving.

-Wouldn't eat it everyday, but every now and then it's really good. I went back on to foodnetwork.com to find the recipe again.

?2016-11-04T10:37:01Z

Alot of cheese, make confident, then placed it in a baking dish, placed a mix of bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese on ideal, and unfold little dots of butter on ideal to brown, and then bake 425 for 10-15 minutes perhaps much less, even yet it seems fairly stable

sexxy2008-03-01T00:11:15Z

Those are all good recipes..My mom used to cut up hot-dogs and put that in our mac and cheese!

Anonymous2008-02-29T23:51:33Z

You could put it in the oven with shredded cheese on top until the cheese has carmalized.
or
Bacon bits!

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