Now a serious question - Mac 'n Cheese

[Tyo]

We've got to provide the comfort food dish for a potluck next Sat. What cheeses go into the perfect Mac and Cheese and is there one brand of pasta that works better than another? We usually buy Barilla, but that's habit more than anything else. Help!

[bridgit]

1. personally, i favor a monterrey jack, or a brie...

but that's just me :9

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. If it's not neon orange, it's not Mac & Cheese.

:) Only powdered cheese product will do.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. 10 year old cave-aged sharp cheddar!

And the old standby of elbow macaroni is absolutely the perfect mac and cheese pasta.

And add a hint of gorganzola or pepper-crusted chevre.

[Wcross]

4. Velveta cheese and Creamette pasta.

I have no clue how to cook it right but that is the basic formula.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. A blend of cheeses works best, I think.

Like fontina, mozzarella, cheddar and then some ricotta, or some cream cheese. If you go to Allrecipes.com, there are tons of recipes, so you can pick the one you think will come out the best. Baked mac and cheese is the best.

Pasta is probably more a matter of personal choice.

[Briarius]

15. Baked is the best

if just for the crunchy cheese/macaroni on the top!

[sleepyhead]

6. Mixture of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack.

Layer with cooked (al dente) pasta in greased baking dish, pour a mixture of beaten eggs/heavy cream/black pepper/pinch of nutmeg on top (enough to almost cover), bake. Any brand-name pasta will do (dried, not fresh).

Mmmmm, now I know what I'm making for dinner tomorrow night!

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Cheddar (mix of mild and sharp), Parmesan (fresh grated) , medium dry Jack

After you finish, I got first dibs on scrapping the casserole dish.

[nickinSTL]

8. I'm sure most will consider me some sort of barbarian...

but I love just plain old Kraft Mac 'n Cheese.

No additions, just milk, butter/margarine cheese powder and the macaroni.

I've had lots of different kinds, but that's still my favorite (and I LOVE mac 'n cheese).

[Tyo]

9. On a rainy Saturday afternoon...

when you are half way through the movie and you pause it cuz you're starving... There's nothing better. Partner laughs at me when I pull out the box but then of course once it's made I've gotta fight him for my share.

[Ravenseye]

10. Extra Sharp New York Cheddar

Nothing else will do.

[Tyo]

11. So what is it about New York Cheddar?

I'm a West Coaster so I don't know, but I assume we are talking upstate.

[Ravenseye]

12. Of course

Southern Finger Lakes. Cuba, NY. Extra Sharp. Fresh....not that Kraft shit.

It's the sharpness that makes it differ. Best Cheddar in the world.

[REP]

21. NY Cheddar IS Good ... But So Is Canadian ...

I have a weakness for Black Diamond White Cheddar. I usually use NY cheddar for my Maccaroni and Jesus, but I've been known to throw in some Black Diamond - and I don't eat mac'n'cheese (the Loved One does, and I guess I really do love him!).

Kraft is shit. True dat. Maybe it's good for caulking...?

[rocktivity]

13. I use equal parts sharp and extra sharp cheddar

yellow, of course. And I'd stick with basic elbow macaroni--Barilla, of course. The larger the pasta, the more it swells up, the less you can fit in the casserole dish.

:headbang:
rocknation

[speedoo]

14. Best Mac and Cheese in the world...

Can be found at Tom Jackson's BBQ in Ft. Lauderdale. They use small elbow macaroni and a blend of cheeses (it's more of a cream color than orange) and they add breadcrumbs. They bake it a little to add a crustiness.

Next time I'm there, I'm gonna try to get a recipe.:thumbsup:

Edit: I also like Boston Market's mac and cheese.

[grasswire]

16. 22 ounces large elbow macaroni

3/4 cube butter
3 T flour
3 cups milk + 1/2 cup
lots of cheddar

Make a roux, add milk and stir and cook to make a smooth bechamel, add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in some of the cheese, cubed, and let it melt. Pour cooked and drained macaroni into a buttered casserole. Pour chese sauce over and stir in. Then pour 1/2 cup milk over the top, and top with lots of sliced cheddar. Bake until bubbly and melted.

[mykpart]

17. I just use American cheese.

Along with margarine & milk - with large elbow macaroni - I like Skinner. But it really doesn't matter. There is no such thing as bad mac and cheese - it's all good!

[Scout1071]

18. Martha Stewart has a killer mac & cheese recipe.

I think it uses Guyiere cheese.

I've made it twice - very delicious. Just go to her website and search mac & cheese.

[China_cat]

19. No matter what cheeses you use

Add sour cream to your mac and cheese.

[REP]

20. Maccaroni and Jesus

Bag of Pasta
3/4 lb cheddar
enough parmesean
enough romano
any other cheese ends lying around
the white rind only of Bleu cheese
butter
flour
milk
salt
pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
ground mustard
paprika

Cook the pasta. I like rotini, but whatever floats your boat. Drain rinse and set aside.

Make a basic white sauce with the butter, flour, milk, salt, pepper (white pepper if you're feeling fancy), garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and ground mustard. Throw in the chopped-up cheddar a bit at a time and stir until melted; keep doing that until you're out of cheese. Add the parmesean and romano and let sit on low for a bit - they take forever to melt - and stir. Add milk throughout if needed. Add any other cheese ends (swiss, emmenthaler - any hard flavorful cheese). Add the WHITE RINDS ONLY of a bleu cheese. Stir and add milk if needed until everything is smooth and lovely.

Dump noodles into 6 qt casserole and pour cheese mix over and stir to cover the noodles. Bake uncovered at 350 for about 1/2 hour (whatever - what you want is a golden brown top). Remove from oven and feed to people who enjoy mac'n'cheese. My Loved One can eat an entire casserole of this in one sitting if not stopped.

[Callalily]

22. Here's the mac & cheese

link from the Cooking & Baking Group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=3855

Happy cooking!

[Lilyhoney]

23. Government cheese.

:patriot:

[Guava Jelly]

24. gov'ment cheese is the shit!!

It was almost worth being poor just to get it.
well on second thought maybe not :)