Recipes with water

King cake for Mardi Gras, a sour cream yeast dough rolled with cinnamon-sugar butter, shaped into an oval ring, and decorated with purple, green, and gold sugars. New Orleans tradition at home.

Rosemary currant focaccia combines bread flour, whole wheat, olive oil, rosemary, and sweet raisins in a bread machine for hands-off baking. Italian-style loaf with sweet-savory balance.

Chocolate-marshmallow cake assembly with four layers of cake, fluffy marshmallow frosting cooked on the stove, and a poured chocolate glaze with toasted almonds. A retro showpiece cake.

Creamy corn chowder with fresh corn, diced potatoes, sauteed onion, and a generous pour of cream. Six ingredients, classic New England comfort food for four.

Cranberry raisin pie pairs tart cranberries with sweet raisins in a vanilla-scented filling, baked between two pastry crusts. The raisins balance the cranberries' sharp bite, no extra spices needed.

Caramelized onion focaccia made with bread machine dough, topped with sweet butter-softened onions, garlic, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Golden, cheesy, and irresistible.

Crispy Chinese-style honey chicken with cornstarch batter, double-fried until golden, drizzled with ginger-garlic honey sauce. Restaurant takeout flavors at home with wok technique.

Crispy Chinese-style honey chicken with cornstarch batter, double-fried until golden, drizzled with ginger-garlic honey sauce. Restaurant takeout flavors at home with wok technique.

Mushroom stroganoff layers fresh mushrooms with rehydrated dried mushrooms in a sour cream sauce spiked with brandy and sherry, served over buttery egg noodles. A meatless take with serious umami.

Microwave tomato soup made from canned condensed tomato soup, finished with grated Parmesan. Ready in 8 minutes for a tureen or 3 minutes per mug, the easiest hot lunch in the recipe box.

Classic devil's food cake made with real melted unsweetened chocolate, two sugars, cake flour, and folded egg whites. Dark, moist, and deeply chocolatey from scratch.

Rich cocoa brownies topped with a mocha frosting made with instant coffee and cocoa powder. Fudgy, intensely chocolatey squares with a glossy coffee-spiked icing.

Strawberry-rhubarb shortcake with a warm rhubarb sauce, fresh strawberries, buttered biscuits, and whipped cream. A classic spring dessert that celebrates two seasonal favorites together.

French-style praline truffles made with dark chocolate, egg yolks, butter, and hazelnut praline paste, rolled in grated chocolate. A classic Parisian chocolatier technique for silky, nut-scented truffles.

Ginger-infused rice made by frying fresh minced ginger in oil before simmering with short-grain rice. A fragrant, simple side dish that pairs with stir-fries, curries, and grilled meats.

Referee cookies with chocolate cocoa dough loaded with semi-sweet chocolate chips, decorated with white chocolate stripes piped on top. A fun game-day treat that looks like a referee jersey.