The rise of macaroni cheese!

I do a pasta bake with short pasta, lasagne mince and cheese sauce all mixed in and topped with grated cheese but wouldn't really think about that as macaroni cheese.

Oh, if I wasn't already married Leenyloo80 ..

We have a pub in Glasgow and they hold a mac 'n' cheese night xx You can have your wedding reception in their ballroom and have the mac n cheese as your meal!!

Love mac'n'cheese. Best comfort food ever. Doesn't need tarting up, it's perfection as it is.

marpau my husband introduced me to macaroni pudding when we were first married (56 years ago). We made it just like making rice pudding with evaporated milk poured on the top before baking to make it extra creamy. Haven't done it for years but the whole family loved it.

Is there a particular cheese that's used in the USA?

I love Mac cheese, always have done but especially after a visit to the USA where I discovered it's even better when called mac cheese and has even more creamy cheese than I'd have used. I add all kinds of things but honestly, creamy mac cheese can't be beaten. In fact, that's what we're eating tonight.

Yep I remember the pudding version too!

This is still the meal of choice for my adult children and was always requested for birthdays etc; even their childhood friends used to request it on days they were coming to tea with us. I make a really cheesy pasta sauce and serve it with tomatoes and bacon, or layer it with cooked mince, or serve it with broccoli or cauliflower. Toppings can be crushed crisps, or breadcrumbs or extra cheese with sliced tomatoes on top. The Wonderful Man once put onions in it and has never lived it down - the children were horrified!

marpau yes I can remember that, it was often served, well slopped actually, for dessert at my senior school, I rather liked it, but have to say, I can eat anything and everything at all times

Can anyone remember macaroni pudding using sweet white sauce instead of cheesy one?

It sounds much more tasty with some of these extras added. I might be tempted to have a go.

Mr P makes a delicious version, with onion, mushrooms and bacon added to it.

Macaroni Cheese was about the only thing my mum could cook that we all loved. Sometimes she'd put sliced tomatoes on the top, under the grated cheese.
Can't eat it these days without thinking of her

I've always loathed it and remember years ago, going to lunch with a fiend, when my 3 children were little. She produced a vat of Macaroni cheese- I knew my wouldn't touch it, so I had to have about 3 helpings and pretend I loved it - mega yuk!

It was about the only thing I enjoyed on the school dinner menu. Or at least the only thing that wasn't 90% gristle.

I love it, and make it with Mums recipe, the Grandchildren and my Daughter love it too, DH, no way, so I make it only when my family come.

Dh is glad I started this recipe as he has been macaroni cheese deprived for years and I might be motivated now!

Is there a reason why it must be macaroni!

I add a large tablespoon of horseradish sauce and chopped roasted peppers

I love really cheesy macaroni cheese so will be trying some of the recipes from this thread.

I think its popularity is from the US where it is considered a viable side for some meals along with apple sauce !!! Now that's one I don't get- apple sauce with pork by all means but as a side dish....I don't think so !!!

Broccoli layered on the bottom adds value as

We have it occasionally, but I always mix in chopped cooked bacon and fried onions.

I love it. I make it the traditional way with a white sauce, loads of cheddar and Parmesan added for extra flavour. I put a lot of cheese grated on top and brown it to total deliciousness. It’s macaroni cheese though, never mac’n’cheese!

Never call it mac’n’cheese unless you’re American.

It can be very good if well flavoured.

I usually cook it when husband is away as he can’t stand it. Although I enjoy it, I don’t like the modern trend for adding it as a side dish.