cover image Flash in the Pan: Fast, Fabulous Recipes in a Single Skillet

Flash in the Pan: Fast, Fabulous Recipes in a Single Skillet

Brooke Dojny, Melanie Barnard. Chronicle Books, $22.95 (168pp) ISBN 978-0-8118-3578-7

Elaborating on the meal-in-a-pot theme, Dojny and Barnard (AMA Family Health Cookbook) offer quick recipes that can be cooked in a skillet, which they redefine to include the saute pan. The authors, who write a monthly column for Bon Appetit magazine, begin by advising how to choose the right cookery. Lemon Asparagus Chicken Stir Fry, for instance, can be cooked in minutes in a heavy skillet, as can Cumin-Crusted Pork Paillards with Mojo Pan Sauce; Tuscan sausages and Cannellini Beans on Arugula is best sauteed in a deep, covered pan. Caruso's full-color photos beautifully display such dishes as Thai Fish Bouillabaisse, which is made with coconut milk and red curry paste, or Pan-Seared and Braised Veal Chops Provencal. Dojny and Barnard also cover plenty of timesaving meatless dishes, such as Tunisian Eggplant and Chickpea Ragout; Meatless Mexican Monte Cristo sandwiches; and several varieties of the ultimate skillet meal, the omelet.