Use Your Noodle

Manaal Mohammed is a junior at M.I.T. studying computer science.

This is her first crossword for The Times. It started when she saw the phrase [27-Across] and thought that was an apt way to describe mac 'n' cheese. The grid is full of references with personal significance. Manaal is from the 7-Down area. Her mother uses 14-Down to make rotis. Her older sister used to be obsessed with 23-Downs. And her dad keeps a 41-Across interview stuck on the family refrigerator.

This puzzle is inspired in part by the many pastas my mom has made over the years because I was too picky to eat other food, in particular the late summer pesto pasta we usually make to use up all of the fresh basil in the backyard before the weather starts to get too cold. Hope the timing is appropriate to inspire others to do the same!

Very grateful to be a part of the Diverse Crossword Constructor Fellowship this year; a huge thank you to the editors and the rest of the group, especially my mentor Sam Ezersky, whose encouragement and guidance made this puzzle possible. :)

Given that my picky eaters spurn all pasta except spaghetti — and it has to be the correct brand of spaghetti, mind you — I was amazed to relearn how many pasta shapes there are. Impressive that so many of them can be punned upon. ELBOW GREASE was my highlight, such an apt description of the olive oil I use in cooking elbow macaroni (that the kids push away).

BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR STOMACH, yeah right! More like butterflies in dad's usual mixed-bowlful-of-motley-things-the-kids-refused-to-even-try lunch medley.

SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL also entertained me, given our kids' propensity for leaving a disaster area underneath their chairs.

This is my life.

I often only scan through Will Shortz's note, as it usually contains only basic biographical information, but I read today's with great interest. It's neat to see the personal touches; an insider's look at the constructor. Entries like SUZE ORMAN, NEOPET, and ATTA are neat hints toward Manaal's life. I'd love to see more of this, both from constructors and from Will.

Speaking of accessibility, I would have loved a more explanatory clue for SHOEGAZE. Referencing performers' tendency to stare down at their effects pedals would not have only generated a better click, but what a neat origin story for that term.

Thankfully, the clues for HULAS and SOUPBONE more than made up for that. "Hip things to do" is groan-worthily hilarious, and repurposing "stock option" is star wordplay.

Impressive work from a tyro constructor, finishing with a less-than-average quantity of ASST ERNO ETD TYRO glue.