That Noodle Life: Soulful, Savory, Spicy, Slurpy

The husband-and-wife team behind i am a food blog offer 75 recipes that center noodles in yummy, wide-ranging ways. Some dishes are traditional, some vary from a tradition but explain the alteration, and others (such as French onion mac and cheese and Philly cheesesteak instant mazemen) pull across a range of influences. If you thought you could not really mess up making noodles, the authors go over the steps (just in case) and offer buying advice, notes on salting (or not) the water, judging doneness, soaking, draining, and rinsing. Great attention is given to saucing before the chapters explode in flavors, comfort, and I-am-making-this-right-now glee. Each recipe has a photo (the Les are known for their visual aesthetic), and all come with a headnote that either situates the dish or offers extra advice. Instructions are clear and arranged in stages, most with helpful timing information. While there are plenty of dishes that can be made in the time it would take to order delivery, others take some time to prepare and have a lot of parts. Building a pantry to support the book may require those outside major cities to source online. But that is part of the fun of this exuberant collection, as even cooks that rely on noodles as a mainstay of meals will find something to try for the first time or something that will spark an idea for a new dish.