One Pan, Two Plates

April 15, 2013
The tried-and-true workhorse of pans is the cast iron skillet, and cooking instructor Carla Snyder elevates the heavy-duty fry pan to an innovative level for the home cook in this collection of main dish recipes. Simple, hearty, and nutritionally complete, each one-pan wonder is made from scratch and fresh ingredients. Cooks need only utilize a few basic techniquesâbrowning, braising, and sauce reductionâfor single skillet cooking. Efficient in terms of preparation and cleanup (30 minutes to 1 hour per dish), Snyder's one vessel method yields two time-saving and satisfying plates. Recipes present a "range of cuisines" from India, Mexico, Thailand, France, and China, each with a protein focus, featuring "the meat-centered meals we all associate with dinner." Yellow Curry Chicken with Green Beans and Potatoes offers a sweet, spicy dish. Black Cod Fillets poached in Five-Spice Broth are rounded out with bok choy and Udon. There are risottos and pasta dishes, too. Wine pairings accompany each dish, and Snyder's "Kitchen Counter Points" provide tips for increasing cooking speed and success. This "streamlined" and uncomplicated approach to delivering weeknight meals promises to reduce stress and enable cooks to create a comforting culinary adventure for twoâin one pan. Good review.