America remains the “comfort food nation,” according to a recent issue of Bon Appetit. In the magazine's annual reader survey, 74% of respondents said comfort food is a trend on the rise—and their most comforting comfort food was pasta.
In creamy macaroni and cheese, seasonings make a subtle but real difference in flavor and quality. The kind most commonly made at home includes dry mustard powder and ground white pepper in the cheese sauce. Other versions, more closely related to the Neapolitan original, include oregano, thyme, garlic powder, nutmeg and/or paprika along with a blend of several cheeses. Sometimes milk and herbs are simmered together and the herb-scented milk is strained before being stirred into the cheese.