The Mac + Cheese Cookbook

Some people have a favorite mac and cheese recipe. Others want enough options to make it a personality trait. The Mac + Cheese Cookbook suits the second group, with 50 recipes from Allison Arevalo and Erin Wade, the duo behind Oakland’s Homeroom restaurant.

The useful bit is the foundation: pasta, cheese, and a cream sauce they call Mac Sauce. From there, the recipes branch into dishes like Sriracha Mac, Cacio e Pepe, and Patatas Brava Mac. There are also sides, desserts, and beer and wine pairings, so dinner doesn’t have to begin and end with a very large bowl of pasta. Though we respect the commitment.

This makes a fun gift for the comfort-food cook who likes tinkering. Our favorite use for it is a mac and cheese night: make the basic recipe, set out a spread of suggested add-ins, and let friends build their own bowls. Familiar dinner, considerably more room for opinions about cheese.