5 Links to Read Before Making Macaroni and Cheese

Each week, we’ll be sharing a comprehensive list of links to help you master something new in the kitchen. Culinary greatness, here you come.

Today: How to make everyone's favorite comfort food.

A batch of macaroni and cheese is the culinary equivalent of a big, warm hug. Whether you're feeling down, sick, or nostalgic, a bowl of pasta in a creamy cheese sauce will make you feel better. And while a box of the bright orange yellow stuff has its charms, you owe it to yourself to make real-deal macaroni and cheese from scratch. These links have you covered, just in time for the cold months ahead.

    

• Before you make macaroni and cheese, read up on its history. (Food52.)

• The foundation of a good mac and cheese is a good béchamel sauce. (Food Republic.)

• The type of cheese you choose is, of course, a crucial factor in your success. (Saveur.)

• A complete guide to everyone's favorite comfort food, from noodle shapes to toppings. (First We Feast.)

• For ideas on how to switch up your classic recipe, follow this chart. (Washington Post.)

What are your tips for making mac and cheese? Share them with us in the comments!