If I’m making informal CD mixtapes (mixdiscs?), use Foobar2000 (or other software) to convert the tracks to WAV, and then use ImgBurn to create a CUE file (Tools > Create CUE file…), drag and drop the tracks in to the new window, and customise the disc before burning it.
EAC can also be used for this (and is likely the better choice for making clones of audio CDs), but seems to be a little unreliable on my laptop. And I don’t like to waste CDs, especially when I only have 2 or 3 of them!