Recipes with water

Molasses barbecued ribs get a salt-vinegar brine soak, then a grill basting of dark molasses sauce loaded with onion, pepper, celery, tomato, cloves and allspice. Smoky, tangy, sticky, and built for summer.

Veal stock roasts meaty veal bones with onions, carrots, leeks, and garlic until deeply browned, then simmers gently for 6 to 8 hours into a clear, rich foundation for sauces and soups.

Sugar-free fresh strawberry spread made with ripe berries, lemon juice, and unflavored gelatin. Low-calorie, no pectin needed, and ready in 15 minutes. Tastes like real fruit, not jam.

Sugar-free fresh strawberry spread made with ripe berries, lemon juice, and unflavored gelatin. Low-calorie, no pectin needed, and ready in 15 minutes. Tastes like real fruit, not jam.

Noodle seafood soup, a quick 20-minute one-pot meal using ramen noodle packets, shredded cabbage, carrots, imitation crab, and toasted sesame oil for an Asian-inspired bowl.

Chocolate raspberry buttercream bars with a fudgy brownie base, raspberry jam layer, silky French buttercream, and a chocolate drizzle top. A bakery-style dessert worth the effort.

Double chocolate drop cookies with melted unsweetened chocolate in the batter, semi-sweet chips throughout, and a from-scratch chocolate frosting on top.

Rice pilaf with green peas, bay leaves, and a whole cinnamon stick cooked in the Middle Eastern soaked-rice method. A fragrant vegetarian side with toasted, fluffy grains.

Fireside cranberry apple tea made with cranberry juice, cinnamon-apple herbal tea bags, and brown sugar. A warm, caffeine-free winter drink ready in minutes.

Orange biscotti with fresh orange zest, rum, and olive oil, rolled thin, cut into scalloped strips, and baked twice with a butter-sugar glaze. Crispy Italian cookies for dipping in coffee or dessert wine.

Sour cream chocolate cake using a cake mix enriched with sour cream and brown sugar, topped with a broiled sour cream and brown sugar glaze. Extra moist and finished in minutes under the broiler.

Hot dog potato soup with sliced frankfurters, corn, carrots, and evaporated milk in a creamy thyme-seasoned broth. A hearty, kid-friendly one-pot soup ready in 40 minutes.

Vegetarian pesto pizza on whole wheat crust with homemade basil-pine nut pesto, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, and zucchini. Everything made from scratch including the dough.

Confetti potato casserole loaded with red bell pepper, pimiento, onion, cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Colorful cubed potatoes baked until bubbly and golden.

Fresh pineapple sherbet made from a whole pineapple with just sugar, lemon juice, and water. Cooked, blended smooth, frozen, then beaten light and served in the pineapple shell.

Swiss rösti-style fried potatoes with onion and melty Gruyère pressed into a golden, crusty cake. A crispy-edged, cheese-laced side that turns heads at the table.