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Mac And Cheese On Steroids

I have so many memories of making mac and cheese for the holiday gatherings alongside my mom and sisters.

Oh my, year after year we tried new recipes until we found the perfect one. We would even try making different recipes days before Thanksgiving so we could find the one that was “it.” It was so much fun. This baked mac and cheese is so creamy and delicious. There are never any leftovers when I make this dish. SO YUMMY!!!

There were also many fails along the way. For one, there was the year that we burned it by putting it in the oven and then completely dried it out. Then there was the year my sister flipped it over thinking it was an empty tin pan (we had no Mac and Cheese that Thanksgiving… it was a sad year). And lastly, the mishap that happens most often: we dig into the corners before it’s time to serve. And then when my mom opens it to serve, there’s like half the casserole missing. Oh well, it was just a taste test!

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Quick Tip: I throw it under the broiler for an extra four min. just because I love the top to be brown and a little crispy, but again that’s personal preference.

If You Haven’t Tried This Yet, You’ve Been Missing Out!

I am a big fan of macaroni meals, especially mac and cheese. It’s such an easy way to prepare a meal for your family, isn’t it? The kids love it, and there is that ooey, gooey cheese thing going on. I also love baked beans so I was very excited when my friend told me about a recipe that was combining these two comfort foods. How come I had never thought of this before? I’m sure the dish has been around for ages, but for some reason it has never crossed my path and I was completely unaware of this yummy concoction.

I’m not sure where mac and beans are coming from, but if I had to guess, I would say it’s a Southern invention. All the most delicious dishes always seem to come from the South! Do correct me if I’m wrong!

This is such a simple recipe and you can easily make different variations of it. So far I’ve only tried it “as is” – I really didn’t think it needed any tweaks at all, for me it was perfect!

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Quick Tip: Use your favorite cheese for this, or change them each time for new flavors.

Mac and cheese is one of my favorite meals to enjoy on a lazy afternoon after work or school. It is usually quite easy to make and provides lots so you can share (but believe me, you do not have to!) My only problem with boxed Mac and Cheese is that it does not provide enough creaminess for me. It is tasty, sure. But the milk just blends with the powdered cheese and stays liquid-y. That is why I thought of making something that has more substance.

This mac and cheese recipe has lots of creaminess because it is made with real cheese. When blended with milk, that cheese melts and becomes gooey and spreads quite easily over the pasta. It also stays creamy and keeps the shells moist and from drying up. It is the perfect Sunday afternoon pick me up when you are feeling down about having to go back to work on Monday morning. Or, it is an easy weeknight meal that is kid proof and totally yummy. It is also a great side dish for dinner with guests (or consider making it the main dish by chopping up some chicken and throwing it in as well). However you choose to make it and for whatever occasion, you are going to love chowing this baby up!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Spend with Pennies.

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Quick Tip: If this is drying up, add bits of cream cheese.

I am one of those people who think that when you put cheese in any average dish, it will transform into at least something tolerable or something completely superb. Yes, I am a cheese person! I put cheese in almost everything, which is why one of my favorite home-cooked meals is Macaroni and Cheese.

If you were to attend one of our family reunions, you would notice one of my parents’ most favorite ways of embarrassing me is telling everyone about my childhood misbehavior. They will start with how chubby a kid I was and then end it with a tale of how they used to bribe me into going to school by promising Macaroni and Cheese for dinner. With the way I am able to eat half of a baking pan, I have to grudgingly agree that it might be true.

Photo courtesy of Kelley Chisholm and recipe courtesy of Tablespoon.Com.

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Quick Tip: Serve with buttered or garlic bread.

Who doesn’t love a good mac n’ cheese, but sometimes you want a little extra spin on the flavors.  We have discovered the secret, and the answer is pesto.  This nutty, cheesy dish will have you doing flips!

This recipe serves 8 people, so you may have leftovers, but they preserve really well.  Serve this with a side of greens or garlic bread, and you have yourself a meal.

Recipe and photo courtesy of 12 Tomatoes

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Mac n’ cheese is a home down, country style dish that, not surprisingly, everyone loves.  The ultimate in comfort food, what happens when we throw in a delicacy?

Lobster is one of the most sought after shellfish on the market, and there’s no mystery as to why.  Fall-apart claw meat, drowning in melted butter with a twist of lemon…..can it get any better?  This recipe takes a classic easy favorite and dresses it up with the filet mignon of the sea.

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Energy Health Team

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This Tuna Swiss Melt Casserole is a nice twist on the traditional tuna casserole and makes for a great, quick, and easy midweek meal!

I may have been in the minority of people growing up who actually enjoyed tuna casserole. Maybe it’s just my Gulf Coast upbringing, loving everything from the sea. Even I have to admit that the classic recipes like this can get a bit tired after a while, though. Adding Swiss cheese and tomatoes to the mix makes for a nice upgrade, I think. Swiss cheese is one of those “happy medium” cheeses that has a distinct flavor without being too overpowering, and it actually takes on more depth of flavor when melted. The result: a really creamy casserole with a topping that nicely complements the natural flavor of the tuna. Just make a side salad, and you have a filling, soothing, well-balanced full meal–with minimal effort. Yummy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Bickering Cooks

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Quick tip: Use a 9″ x 13″ baking dish, coated with cooking spray.