Recipes with water

Velvety pureed chestnut soup kissed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace. This warming vegetarian broth comes together in 35 minutes with a silky milk finish and bright lemon squeeze.

Mussel and saffron soup built on the briny steaming liquor with leeks, fenugreek, and a finish of cream. A French bistro classic with deep golden color and shellfish-rich broth.

Easy lemon pound cake that doctors a yellow cake mix with lemon pie filling for a moist, bright-flavored loaf. Five ingredients, one bowl, the kind of shortcut bake that fools every guest.

So easy to make, and it was refreshingly delicious. A great side dish to go with any main courses.

Asian-style shrimp salad with bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and crunchy chow mein noodles in a soy-ginger mayonnaise dressing. A cold, crunchy seafood salad.

Lemon chiffon cake with bright lemon juice, fresh zest, and a cloud-light crumb leavened by stiff-beaten egg whites. The vintage springtime cake that's still impossible to beat.

Tender zucchini and onions fold into oregano-spiked egg custard baked in pie crust, crowned with fresh tomato slices and crispy cracker-cheese topping.

Saffron garlic potato soup: a Provencal-style aigo bouido with a whole head of garlic, fresh herbs, saffron threads, and diced potatoes. Served over French bread with melted parmesan.

Thai grilled chicken with sweet-savory marinade and tangy dipping sauce. Marinate chicken in soy sauce, oyster sauce, and garlic, then grill until crispy. Serves 4.

Hungarian goulash soup: tender beef and potatoes in a brothy, deeply paprika-spiced base with caraway, marjoram, and a hint of lemon peel. The classic gulyas served as a hearty, soul-warming soup.

Small-batch date cake with cocoa in the batter and a chocolate chip, nut, and sugar topping pressed on before cooking. Ready in 7 minutes in the microwave. A quick, nostalgic treat when you want homemade cake without heating up the oven.

Pineapple, banana and cantaloupe pooled in a coconut milk and brown rice syrup glaze, scented with rosewater. Light tropical fruit salad with a Southeast Asian twist.

Homemade cornmeal focaccia topped with sweet corn, fresh sage, lemon-kissed red onion rings, and melted Monterey Jack. Golden, chewy, and bursting with late-summer flavor.

Jewel-toned apple rings preserved in a brandy-spiked sugar syrup and water bath canned for year-round enjoyment. A stunning edible gift or garnish that captures fall in a jar.

Gulai merah is an Indonesian red beef short rib curry braised in a spice paste of shallot, chile, ginger, and turmeric with salam leaf, galangal, and lemongrass. Serve with rice.

Vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with pressed tofu, brown rice, and nuts, seasoned with herbs and spices, then baked in a tomato-sauerkraut sauce until tender.