Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese a reader’s family swears by, plus a fresh take on Sweet Potato Casserole

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: A READER’S FAMILY WOULD REVOLT WITHOUT THIS MAC AND CHEESE AT THANKSGIVING

A panicked reader called the newsroom, frantic to find her family’s favorite dish for Thanksgiving: a baked mac and cheese. She said her family would revolt if it didn’t make it to the table. Luckily, the recipe was found, and Thanksgiving was saved. This is that beloved recipe.

Let’s dive into some notes for a good mac and cheese:

• Most shredded cheeses from the store have a starchy coating on them, which leads to a grainy end result. Shred blocks of cheddar and Colby jack to ensure a smooth, creamy dish. It’ll even save you some money at the store.
• Embrace Velveeta! The “pasteurized prepared cheese product” is engineered to melt in a smooth, velvety consistency. It’s a key ingredient in getting a uniform texture to the cheese sauce.
• Bake, then broil. You want to cook the mac and cheese fully through, until all cheese and cheese products are melted. Turning on the broiler at the end for a few minutes guarantees a delightful browned crust along the top that contrasts well with the creamy pasta.

When it comes to mac and cheese for the holidays, writer Michael Harriot said it best in a tweet: “I don’t know who needs to hear this but your family DOES NOT want you to “try something different” with the macaroni & cheese.”

Save the wild experimentation and unwelcome additions for another time. The absolute most I’d recommend here is sprinkling some breadcrumbs over the dish before popping it in the oven to ensure some texture variation.

A READER SENT IN THIS WELL-LOVED SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE RECIPE WITH A WELCOME TWIST

Full disclosure: Sweet potatoes rarely made an appearance on my family’s Thanksgiving table. When they did, they weren’t in sweet casserole form - they were baked whole and served to the one person that insisted on having them. We were so misguided. We were missing out all those years on the sweet, rich casserole beloved by so many.

While the sanctity of mac and cheese is well-known, I think a little holiday experimentation with sweet potato casserole should be appreciated. That’s what one reader embraced when she sent in this recipe, which swaps marshmallows for shredded coconut and pecans.

On many Thanksgiving tables, you have quite a few soft dishes that share similar seasonings. Introducing a tropical, nutty flavor like coconut and including crunchy pecans helps to break up the monotony of the dinner.

This story was originally published November 14, 2023 at 6:00 AM.