Recipes with water

Snow crab claws simmered in a strained curry sauce built from sauteed vegetables, apple, fish stock, and a splash of pineapple juice. A refined, restaurant-style seafood dish with layered tropical and savory flavors.

Lemon meringue pie reimagined as a cake: a cloud-light, lemon-scented angel food cake split and filled with tangy homemade lemon curd, then swathed in glossy Italian meringue frosting. Airy, bright, and showy.

Lemon meringue pie reimagined as a cake: a cloud-light, lemon-scented angel food cake split and filled with tangy homemade lemon curd, then swathed in glossy Italian meringue frosting. Airy, bright, and showy.

A moist tube cake where grated apples meet cocoa, cinnamon, allspice, and chocolate chips. Baked low and slow for a dense, spiced crumb that's part apple cake, part chocolate cake, and entirely irresistible.

Fresh vegetable basil soup with potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, and green peas in an herb-seasoned broth. A hearty, low-fat vegan soup.

From-scratch blueberry pie with toasted walnuts in the filling, a buttery sweet pastry crust, and a cinnamon-walnut crumb topping. Lemon zest brightens every bite of this three-component pie that's worth the extra effort.

Cinnamon pear tart with a rustic whole wheat crust, warm spices, and juicy sliced pears. A free-form galette for two that's simple enough for any weeknight dessert.

Thick, creamy goji berry and strawberry smoothie with soaked flax seeds and almond milk. A naturally gluten-free, nutrient-packed blend with a gorgeous pink hue.

A clever diet quiche with a fiber-rich bran-egg crust and a silky blended tofu filling loaded with asparagus, mushrooms, and onion. Low-calorie, low-fat, and high in protein. No pastry dough needed.

Toffee-coated popcorn with pecans and mixed dried fruit, baked until crunchy. A homemade caramel corn snack mix cooked to hard-ball stage for a crispy, buttery shell.

Flank steak marinated in dry red wine, olive oil, and onion soup mix, then grilled and sliced thin against the grain. The reduced marinade doubles as a savory pan sauce.

Quickie beef stroganoff with tender chuck steak strips, earthy mushrooms, and tangy sour cream sauce over buttered noodles in under an hour.

COMMENT: What makes this dessert so irresistible? As it bakes, a pudding sauce forms beneath the cake layer. Cocoa-based and made without eggs, its an old-fashioned treat that should be served with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and a big spoon.

Toasted long grain rice baked in French onion soup with turkey, mushrooms, green pepper, and celery, finished with a melted cheese pinwheel on top. A hearty one-dish casserole the whole family will dig into.

Puréed cauliflower soup with caramelized onions, chicken broth, and milk, finished with white pepper and fresh nutmeg. Light, warming, and naturally creamy without heavy cream.

Classic cocoa layer cake with a tender crumb from the creaming method, ready for your favorite frosting. Swap water for coffee to deepen the chocolate flavor. A reliable two-layer cake in under an hour.