Our common nature is a musical journey with Yo-Yo Ma and me, Ana Gonzalez, through this complicated country.

We go into caves, onto boats, and up mountain trails to meet people, hear their stories, their poetry, and of course, play some music, all to reconnect to nature and get closer to the things we're missing.

Listen to Our Common Nature from WNYC, wherever you get podcasts.

It's Linda Cicter with the splendid table.

Thank you. with the splendid table. Today it's a provocative look at the history of alcohol in America as seen through the

eyes of British journalist Andrew Barr.

We don't treat alcohol the way Europeansans do our taboos and excesses

are strictly american bar claims prohibition was really the establishment backlash to

the flood of immigrants in the early nineteen hundred and he links our drinking habits to

women's rights and even racism jane and michael stern have found an old stagecoach stop in California artichoke country.

Wine Maverick Joshua Wesson has wines to grill by.

Cheese Maven Steve Jenkins takes us to the heart of France and it's open lines for your calls.

All this and more coming up on the splendid table. But first this.

Welcome to Kitchen Chronicles where knowledge is power and cooking is pleasure,

a practical guide to nourishing ourselves and the people we care about.

Today, macaroni and cheese beyond the blue box.

Homemade mac and cheese is easy, economical, and you can do it ahead.

We're going to look at some old-time recipes that transform this down-home basic into an elegant dish,

and then we're going to talk

about good old grandma style mac and cheese.

Macaroni and cheese can be as simple as tossing fresh cooked elbow macaroni with a combination

of shredded cheeses and maybe a little milk or cream.

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