Easy Cheesy Sauce

As you might guess from the name, this recipe doesn’t have the character of any particular type of cheese; it’s just a thick, cheesy concoction that can be poured over polenta, cooked potatoes or broccoli, or any food that is enhanced by a cheese sauce. If using it as a sauce, you’ll probably want to omit the xanthan gum. For a stretchier consistency, add some or all of the xanthan gum, which will also thicken the sauce, allowing it to be used more like a cheese—for example, as a topping fo