Super yummy Mac&Cheese

[columbusmomma]

What are your favorite recipes or tricks for making the tastiest mac&cheese?  Please share!

[askew]

This is my favorite recipe. 

http://www.plantfoodfabulous.com/2010/11/mac-and-cheese.html

[cristeen]

I just make a basic white sauce with cheese.  My "tricks" to making it taste excellent are using several different cheeses, plenty of pepper (black and cayenne) and garlic (powder).  Usually mac & cheese around here uses at least 6 different cheeses.  My 2 "must" cheeses are a blue cheese, and a mustard cheddar called Red Dragon that is amazing.  Neither takes much more than 1-2 Tbs for flavor.  When I can't find Red Dragon, a Tbs or two of brown mustard stirred into the roux works really well instead. 

I use mac & cheese as an excuse to clean out the cheese drawer of all those bits and bobs of end of blocks of cheese (we eat a lot of cheese).  The bulk is usually made up of jacks and cheddars (medium, mild, sharp, whatever).  Some fun additions are cream cheese (just a couple Tbs gives a great richness), and brie (gives a silkiness and depth of flavor).  I don't use swiss or dry cheeses in large amounts - I hate cleaning the pan afterwards, it's too gooey. 

I usually use about 5-6 cups of grated cheese (not packed) to a pound of pasta.  And then I bake it.  Through trial and error we discovered we preferred baked to stove-top years ago.