Elbows

This common pasta shape is known as "elbows" in the United States, while in Italy, it is known as macaroni or maccheroni. Macaroni has one of the most interesting histories of any pasta form. Of course, it is best recognized in America for its starring part in macaroni and cheese (to the point that some might start looking for alternatives). Thomas Jefferson is credited for popularizing macaroni and cheese in the United States, serving it at a state supper after eating the meal overseas and bringing it home.

While the term macaroni usually refers to this specific shape (a short, bent, hollow tube), it can also apply to any dry pasta in general. Some argue that macaroni predates Italy and may allude to the noodles brought back from China by Marco Polo in the eleventh century. Whatever its origin, macaroni pairs well with rich, cheese-based sauces that fill the tube and adhere to the ridged outside.