905 tender recipes

Picante pot roast slow-cooks beef chuck with picante sauce, tomato, onion, garlic, cumin and oregano. Tex-Mex spin on Sunday pot roast with shreddable, fork-tender results.

Oasis carrot salad boils carrots tender then marinates them in garlic-onion-vinegar dressing, finished with fresh cilantro and parsley. A bright, make-ahead North African-style side.

Classic Italian sponge cake made with a warm egg foam, cocoa powder, and no butter at all. Light as air with a deep golden crust and tender chocolate crumb.

Soft chocolate drop cookies packed with maraschino cherries and topped with a glossy chocolate frosting. Buttermilk keeps them tender. Makes 4 to 5 dozen in about 30 minutes, so they're built for holiday cookie trays and bake sales.

Thai-style stuffed tomatoes filled with seasoned ground pork, shrimp, peas, and corn, flavored with pounded garlic, peppercorns, coriander root, and fish sauce. Gently steamed until tender and fragrant.

Victorian jewels mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts baked into tender two-bite cakes. A glossy jelly glaze gives each one its jewel-box shine. Holiday gifting star.

Lemon glazed poppyseed bundt cake is a tall, tender bundt scented with lemon extract and speckled with crunchy poppy seeds, finished with a tart lemon powdered sugar glaze that cracks slightly as it sets.

Carrot cake bread: a tender carrot quickbread baked in two 9-inch pans, made with olive oil, cinnamon, grated carrots, and chopped pecans. Better the next day, optional orange-butter icing.

Slow cooker round steak Italiano with just four ingredients: round steak, oregano, salt, and jarred spaghetti sauce. Set it in the morning and come home to fork-tender beef.

Campfire potatoes are a cheesy foil-packet side for the grill, sliced potatoes and onion with butter, cheddar, and a splash of Worcestershire, steamed tender in broth. Easy, no-cleanup cooking for cookouts.

Zuleika cake is a flourless almond cake with a tender, macaroon-like base crowned with a rich cooked egg yolk cream and toasted almonds. Naturally gluten-free and best made a day ahead.

Vegetarian paneer bake with root vegetables slow-cooked in stock until tender and rich. Cubed paneer, rutabaga, carrots, parsnips, and mushrooms braise together in a hands-off casserole that fills the kitchen with savory warmth.

Buttery rolled sugar cookies with lemon zest and vanilla, made with cake flour for a melt-in-your-mouth tender crumb. A classic cut-out cookie recipe that's ideal for decorating and holiday baking.

Baked apples stuffed with oats and brown sugar, dusted in cinnamon, and baked in a splash of grape juice until tender and bubbling. A cozy fall dessert with no butter and a warm, spiced finish.

Creamy salmon chowder with tender potatoes, herbs, and melted Monterey Jack. This comforting soup balances flaky canned salmon with aromatic thyme and dill in a velvety roux-thickened broth.

Sweet Vidalia onion and almond quick bread with almond extract and sauteed onions baked into a tender loaf. A savory-sweet bread that needs no yeast and no kneading.