Recipes with water

Hearty lentil soup with frankfurters, bacon, leeks, and carrots thickened with a browned flour roux and a splash of vinegar. A German-style one-pot meal ready in 90 minutes.

Manhattan clam linguine in a creamy white wine sauce with garlic, basil, thyme, and Parmesan. Pasta cooked in clam liquor for extra briny depth in every strand.

Gently poached chicken breast tossed with spaghetti, broccoli, carrots, green beans, and peas in garlic butter with fresh basil and Parmesan. Spring vegetables meet comfort food.

A two-meat chili with cubed pork and beef, pinto beans, green chiles, jalapenos, cumin, and red wine. Simmered low and slow in a Dutch oven, thickened with tortilla flour for serious body.

Salmon and potato pie layers flaked salmon, potato and carrot in a creamy paprika white sauce under a golden pastry crust. A comforting main that works beautifully with canned salmon and pantry staples.

Luxurious pearl tapioca pudding made with a full quart of cream, brown sugar, and Madagascar bourbon vanilla. A make-ahead dessert that serves a crowd.

Manitoba wild rice baked casserole with bacon, mushrooms, and beef stock. Nutty, earthy wild rice simmered then finished in the oven for deep savory flavor.

Obsttorte, the German fruit torte built on a buttery pressed shortbread crust, filled with whole fruit set in a glossy fruit glaze, edged in almond meringue, and crowned with vanilla whipped cream. Works with any fruit you love.

Spiced devil's food bundt cake studded with brandy-soaked dates, raisins, and chopped filberts, all baked in the microwave and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting. Ready in under an hour.

A plant-based twist on classic chicken noodle soup. Blended chickpeas create a creamy, protein-rich broth with noodles, potatoes, and poultry seasoning. Add scrambled tofu for extra heartiness.

Homemade yeast bagels loaded with fresh jalapeño and hot sauce right in the dough, boiled and baked until golden with more jalapeño on top. Chewy, spicy, and nothing like what you'll find at the store.

Overnight whole grain cereal uses a boil-and-rest method to soften wheat berries with raisins. No stovetop simmering, no slow cooker, just a thermos or covered pot and wake up to breakfast.

Herbed tofu simmered in a creamy white wine sauce made from a simple roux with milk and a hint of ground cloves. Served over pasta for a quick vegetarian dinner.

Blended strawberry punch with pineapple, apple, and orange juice topped with bubbly seltzer. A low-calorie, no-alcohol party punch that's fruity, fizzy, and refreshing for any gathering.

Three pounds of beef chuck simmered for nearly 3 hours with cumin, oregano, jalapeño, and tomato concassé, thickened with a masa harina slurry. No beans, no shortcuts. This is cookoff-caliber chili built on patience and bold spice.

Szechuan eggplant sautéed in broth instead of oil for a low-fat, plant-based dinner that packs serious heat. Just 5 ingredients, 30 minutes, and a whole lot of spicy Szechuan-teriyaki flavor over rice.