My family (New Hampshire) typically add smoked cherry tomatoes to our mac and cheese.
Mostly an add in of one protein and one vegetable. When more items get added we just switch to the dish being a pasta or a casserole.
I will say that raisins make a great addition to a curried meatloaf.
Also if you got the money to spare a wet dry vacuum is a life saver when your kid barfs I the middle of the night.
Ours got daily use for the various messes the kid and cats would make.