Recipes with water

Old-school stovetop chocolate fudge made with vanilla pudding mix, Dutch cocoa, and a cold-towel cooling technique for smooth, creamy texture. No butter needed, topped with pecans.

This low fat and low calories sorbet is perfect during the hot summer day, it helps you cool down the body and satisfy the mouth.

Authentic no-bean Texas red chili spiked with tequila and simmered low and slow. Coarse ground beef, ground chiles, cumin, and cayenne build layers of smoky, fiery heat in every spoonful.

Pear and ginger cheesecake bakes a granola crust around a filling of simmered pears, crystallized ginger, and a lightened cottage-and-cream-cheese base. A cozy holiday dessert with less heft than classic cheesecake.

Pickled oysters marinated overnight in spiced vinegar brine with sliced onions. A tangy, briny appetizer with old-fashioned charm that makes four jars.

Simple potato vegetable stew with cabbage, kale, carrots, and celery in a lightly seasoned broth. A vegan, fat-free comfort stew that comes together with pantry staples.

Salmon balls baked in cream of mushroom soup made with canned salmon, rice, grated carrots, and onion. A budget-friendly, old-fashioned casserole that families love.

Cucuzzara is a rustic Sicilian squash bread loaded with sauteed butternut squash, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and onions, baked into golden durum flour loaves. Makes 4 hearty loaves.

Italian meat pie with seasoned ground beef, tomato paste, green pepper, and layers of mozzarella and Parmesan in a pie crust. Like pizza in pie form.

Great northern bean soup with smoked ham, minced celery, carrots, onions and tomato in a savory chicken broth. Thickened with cornstarch for body. A cold-weather Sunday supper classic.

Savarin aux fruits, a classic French rum-soaked yeast ring cake. A light, beaten dough is baked, then drenched in flavored syrup until saturated and filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit. An elegant patisserie dessert.

Crispy-edged oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with pecans, made with shortening for that old-school chew. Three cups of oats, loads of brown sugar, and five dozen reasons to preheat your oven.

A Texas-style chili with stewing beef, ham rind, dried pinto beans, and red wine simmered low for hours with cumin, cayenne, and oregano. No tomatoes, all meat, pure grit.

Shepherd's pie meets chili night! Ground chicken breast simmered with crushed tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and oregano, topped with whipped potatoes and baked until golden. A Tex-Mex twist on a classic.

Fork-tender chuck pot roast browned and slow-simmered with dill and a splash of vinegar, then finished with potatoes, carrots, zucchini, and a tangy sour cream gravy. A one-pot Sunday dinner.

Grits fiesta pie with a cheesy grits crust filled with taco-seasoned ground beef, Monterey Jack, tomatoes, olives, and green pepper baked in a custard.