Recipes with water

Fudgy chocolate pecan pie built on sweetened condensed milk and melted sweet chocolate instead of the usual corn syrup. The pecans stir into a rich chocolate custard for a brownie-meets-pecan-pie holiday dessert.

Make it a jolly festive season with delicious, easy Christmas snacks. Give the gift of a memorable treat.

Once upon a time I was reading a magazine article about good cooking. The journalist tried to convince me not to use some combinations of ingredients. One of the "banned" combinations mentioned was green and black olives. And so this soup was born to enjoy me.

Rolled baklava swaps the usual diamonds for crisp phyllo logs filled with spiced walnuts, baked golden then dipped in honey-lemon syrup. The cold-syrup dip keeps every flaky roll crisp, not soggy.

Hot and sour mushroom soup with sliced mushrooms, bamboo shoots, rice vinegar, and white pepper, ladled over Japanese soba noodles. A 30-minute lighter take on the Chinese takeout classic.

Simple chocolate chip cookies made with unsalted butter for pure, buttery flavor. Quick 25-minute recipe yields 24 tender cookies with crispy edges and soft centers.

Classic chocolate chip cookies with a tablespoon of water for soft, chewy centers and crisp golden edges. Half butter, half sugar, plenty of semi-sweet chips. One bowl, no chilling.

Dutch pancake with spicy apples is a puffed, golden oven pancake cut into wedges and smothered in cinnamon-glazed apples with a sweet sour cream dollop. A dramatic, custardy brunch centerpiece.

Light mini pancakes made with yogurt and egg whites, served with a homemade cornstarch-thickened berry sauce. A leaner brunch stack that doesn't taste like a compromise.

Three-cheese biscuits made with sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Swiss Emmentaler folded into a flaky butter dough. Wheat germ and powdered milk add nutty depth. Ready in 35 minutes.

Crispy fried falafel balls with chickpeas, herbs, and warm spices. Classic Middle Eastern vegetarian patties served in pita with fresh vegetables and tahini sauce.

Authentic hummus me tahini: chickpeas pushed through a sieve and whipped with tahini, lemon, olive oil, and garlic. Traditional Greek-Mediterranean method.

Vanilla oatmeal raisin cookies with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a touch of corn syrup for chewy texture. Soft, spiced, classic homemade cookies.

Fresh garden mint ice cream made with crushed pineapple, real mint leaves steeped in sugar syrup, and a splash of creme de menthe. A cool, herby summer dessert that earns its garden name.

A vegan pumpkin pie with a silky tofu-set custard, spiced with cinnamon, ginger and mace and sweetened with molasses, in a flaky from-scratch crust. An egg- and dairy-free holiday classic.

Try this recipe.They are great to serve as a party snack.