<P> The American president Thomas Jefferson encountered macaroni both in Paris and in northern Italy . He drew a sketch of the pasta and wrote detailed notes on the extrusion process . In 1793, he commissioned American ambassador to Paris William Short to purchase a machine for making it . Evidently, the machine was not suitable, as Jefferson later imported both macaroni and Parmesan cheese for his use at Monticello . In 1802, Jefferson served "a pie called macaroni" at a state dinner . The menu of the dinner was reported by Reverend Mannasseh Cutler, who apparently was not fond of the cheesy macaroni dish . Nevertheless, since that time, baked macaroni and cheese has remained popular in the United States . </P> <P> A recipe called "macaroni and cheese" appeared in the 1824 cookbook The Virginia Housewife written by Mary Randolph . Randolph's recipe had three ingredients: macaroni, cheese, and butter, layered together and baked in a hot oven . The cookbook was the most influential cookbook of the 19th century, according to culinary historian Karen Hess . Similar recipes for macaroni and cheese occur in the 1852 Hand - book of Useful Arts, and the 1861 Godey's Lady's Book . By the mid-1880s, cookbooks as far west as Kansas and Festus, Missouri, included recipes for macaroni and cheese casseroles . Factory production of the main ingredients made the dish affordable, and recipes made it accessible, but not notably popular . As it became accessible to a broader section of society, macaroni and cheese lost its upper class appeal . </P> <P> Macaroni and Cheese was brought to Canada by British immigrants, coming from other parts of the British Empire . Macaroni and cheese recipes have been attested in Canada since at least Modern Practical Cookery in 1845, which suggests a puff pastry lining (suggesting upper - class refinement), a sauce of cream, egg yolks, mace, and mustard, and grated Parmesan or Cheshire cheese on top . Canadian Cheddar cheese was also becoming popularized at this time and was likely also used during that era . </P> <P> Macaroni and cheese is very popular in modern - day Canada, as it is in the rest of the Commonwealth . Kraft Dinner is the most popular brand of packaged macaroni and cheese . Sasha Chapman, writing in The Walrus, considered it to be Canada's national dish, ahead of poutine . </P>

When did macaroni cheese become mac and cheese