These ideas came from Nancy Hopkins, Better Homes & Gardens, October 2007
Basic Recipe
COMBINE: 2-1/2 cups milk 2 T. flour 1/8 tsp. black pepper.
HEAT; stir until thickened. Stir in 1-1/ 2 cups each shredded Cheddar and Muenster cheeses. STIR IN 4 cups cooked macaroni. TRANSFER to casserole, BAKE in 350 degree oven until bubbly, or 25-30 minutes.
Variations:
1. HERBED: Croutons, herbs, olive oil
2. ITALIAN: Mushrooms, roasted red peppers, Parmesan cheese
3. HARVEST: Sauteed apples, toasted walnuts, sage
4. SMOKY: Smoked white Cheddar, hickory-smoked bacon, almonds
5. NEW ENGLAND: Lobster, crab, melted butter
6. PIZZA: Pepperoni, mozzarella, tomato sauce, pizza seasoning
7. DENVER: Ham, green peppers, onions, Cheddar, hard-cooked egg
8. SOUTH OF THE BORDER: Chorizo sausage, avocado, grape tomatoes (diced)
9. GREEK: Roasted chicken, herbed feta, green olives, roasted sweet peppers
10. GARDEN: Asparagus, broccoli, carrots, spinach, banana pepper rings
