Comfort foods are totally a necessity for me when my life seems to be getting too hectic and I just want to put my feet up and enjoy a taste that reminds me of those simpler days. Macaroni and cheese is one of those foods! Easy to prepare and fairly quick compared to some other comfort foods I love macaroni and cheese is a well loved food by many children as well as adults.
I actually prefer my macaroni and cheese to be just as the basic recipe calls for when I eat it but my family loves to have varieties included in with theirs. So I've included a basic recipe and have listed several addins and changes you can try to spruce it up a bit for your favorite tastes.

Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

1 lb box uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tsp. salt

Sauce:

1/4 cup butter
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 c. unsifted all purpose flour
2 1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 lb. swiss cheese grated
1/2 cup Parmesan or Romano grated
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 cup butter melted
1 1/2 cup fine bread crumbs

Preheat oven 350º F
In large kettle bring 4 quarts water to boiling. Add macaroni & salt; boil rapidly, uncovered & stirring occasionally, until tender. Drain
Meanwhile make sauce; melt butter in 2 quart saucepan; remove from heat. Stir in flour, salt, mustard & pepper until smooth.
Gradually add milk; bringing to boiling, over medium heat, stirring constantly.
In large bowl, mix cheeses and macaroni together well. Put into casserole pans and pour white sauce on top of the macaroni and cheese.
Toss butter with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over top. Bake uncovered 30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and top is golden.

Variations for this beloved comfort food can include anything from Lobster to seasoned ground beef as well as a variety of veggies and other add ins. So here are some great suggestions for changing things around starting with the great basic recipe above or your favorite macaroni and cheese.
First things first. You CAN experiment with your favorite cheeses when making the basic recipe. The point is you are looking for the perfect macaroni and cheese that suits YOUR taste buds! So go ahead and try adding your favorite varieties. There are some great tasting cheeses out there such as Gruyere, Blue Cheese, Edam, Comte and Petit Basque along with many others that might just be your perfect combination so go ahead and try something new.

Vegetable add-ins are easy. Peas, corn, onions, olives, tomatoes, broccoli and/or peppers among others make great tasting additions.
Some folks like to add chopped up hotdogs, polish sausage or ham to theirs. I've had the kind with ham and it's pretty good!
You can also add other meats (such as the lobster we mentioned before) crab, shrimp, fish, beef, shredded chicken or any other kind of meat you enjoy eating. Taco meat or chili is also frequently added to macaroni and cheese to make chili mac and more. I've even seen diced pepperoni added to it for a savory flavor!