You know how a recipe for a pasta dish will always say, “cook the pasta according to package directions”? Yeah. Forget that. I bet the package itself says “cook the pasta according to package directions.” I don't know, though. I haven't looked in, like, forever. I have made so much gluten-free pasta over the years that I have become quite the insufferable braggart about the whole business. I want to show you how to make the most gorgeous, lighter and healthier feel-better-serving-it-to-your-family-every-Tuesday-even-in-New-Year's-Resolution-season sort of gluten-free macaroni and cheese. But first? First, you're gonna need your very own bragging rights. You need to know how-to boil gluten-free pasta so it's perfectly al dente, not at all gummy, and holds up as good as or better than any gluteny dried pasta you've ever had.

It's all about the rolling boil, the foaming pasta water, the changing color of the pasta, and then the rinsing. Do this tonight, and you'll feel like a rock star. Trust me. I'm a professional (told you about the bragging).

There are some really great pasta dishes in my New Cookbook. But you won't be satisfied if your GF pasta is gummy & weepy. So let's get to work: