Mmmm, another macaroni cheese fan here! Maybe you could get a good Gumbo recipe and have bowls of rice and chunks of pumpkin bread to go with it? Or Irish stew with soda bread. Stewed beef with doughballs (can you tell I'm addicted to stodgy and bready stuff?
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Casseroles also good. Not sure Paella counts as hearty but it can be made in large quantities. Sweet and sour chicken could also work. Vegetarian/Mixed bean chilli.