Recipes with water

Lighter banana walnut cake made with egg whites instead of whole eggs, studded with walnuts and raisins. A cinnamon-spiced sheet cake baked in a 9x13 pan.

Pacific pot roast studded with whole garlic cloves, braised low and slow in a Dutch oven, then served with a tomato-spiked flour gravy over rice. Simple, old-school comfort.

Pacific pot roast studded with whole garlic cloves, braised low and slow in a Dutch oven, then served with a tomato-spiked flour gravy over rice. Simple, old-school comfort.

A classic chocolate souffle from Eunice Kennedy Shriver's kitchen, made with unsweetened chocolate, a touch of coffee, and billowy whipped egg whites. Elegant enough for any holiday table.

Rotisserie baby back ribs slow-cooked over coals and basted with a homemade tomato-brown sugar BBQ sauce, finished with hickory smoke. Spit-roasted for an hour until fall-off-the-bone tender.

Lentil and spinach soup brightened with lemon juice, coriander, and a slick of olive oil. A vegan, gluten-free Middle Eastern-style soup served with pita. High in fiber, low in fuss.

Chicken fried steak done Southern style: steaks dipped in buttermilk, dredged in seasoned flour and crumbs, pan-fried crispy, then smothered in a from-scratch milk gravy made right from the pan drippings.

Hearty herb oatmeal bread with sage, basil, dill, pine nuts, and three kinds of seeds baked in a clay pot for a crackling crust. A rustic yeast bread with real depth.

Beef short ribs baked until tender, then glazed with a tangy rhubarb barbecue sauce made from honey, chili sauce, rose wine, and onion soup mix. A unique twist on classic BBQ ribs that balances sweet, tart, and smoky.

Beef short ribs baked until tender, then glazed with a tangy rhubarb barbecue sauce made from honey, chili sauce, rose wine, and onion soup mix. A unique twist on classic BBQ ribs that balances sweet, tart, and smoky.

Chocolate chip Bundt cake made from yellow cake mix, sour cream, and eggs with semi-sweet chips throughout. Dense, moist, and dusted with powdered sugar.

Pressure cooker saffron brown rice with mushrooms, leeks, carrots, and fennel seeds. A one-pot vegetarian side that cooks hands-off in 25 minutes.

Pressure cooker saffron brown rice with mushrooms, leeks, carrots, and fennel seeds. A one-pot vegetarian side that cooks hands-off in 25 minutes.

Vegan baked beans slow-cooked with molasses, brown sugar, warm spices, and tomato sauce. No meat, no dairy, just rich and smoky homemade beans baked low and slow until thick and saucy. A hearty plant-based side dish.

Herb-loaded chicken salad with asparagus, red pepper, and tarragon piled inside a hollowed bread loaf. A showstopping potluck centerpiece that feeds a crowd and slices into neat wedges.

Six pounds of cubed beef browned in suet, simmered in beef stock with a full cup of chili powder and crushed cumin seeds, thickened with masa harina. No tomatoes. No beans. This is Texas Red in its purest form.