Have you ever baked a giant chocolate chip cookie in a skillet? If you haven’t, now is the time because Samantha Seneviratne’s recipe is utterly magical. Like everything she puts forth, Samantha’s giant cookie is perfectly balanced, a harmony of brown sugar, walnuts and chocolate chips seasoned with just enough salt to tame the sweetness. And smushing one giant cookie into a skillet is vastly easier and faster than forming individual cookies. It’s the kind of after-work treat that makes Monday altogether worth it.
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Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
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While that big boy’s in the oven, why not pull out another skillet to sauté my shrimp scampi for dinner? You can throw the dish together from start to finish before your giant cookie is done baking, and the garlicky, winy aroma will mingle with the browning butter and chocolate in a dreamy preview of your imminent feast.
You can also hold on to those two exceptional yet easy recipes for Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, which is coming at us fast. We have dozens more V-Day ideas for you here, and they’re perfect whether you’re celebrating your loved ones or taking a little extra time to make a special meal for yourself. I’m starting my menu plan with Samantha’s skillet cookie and working back from there.
Speaking of skillet magic, there’s also Eric Kim’s stunning, five-star gochugaru salmon with crispy rice, a simple dish that delivers an outsize bang from just a few ingredients. You can substitute other fish for the plush salmon, like mackerel, my personal favorite, with its clean ocean flavor. Be sure to double the spicy-sweet sauce because it’s so good you could find yourself eating it right from the spoon.
For a five-star skillet recipe featuring chicken, Colu Henry’s harissa chicken thighs are especially fragrant from a little cinnamon added to the pan, which warms up and rounds out the fiery chile notes. To turn this into a one-pan meal, take a tip from a reader, Arlene, who wrote in the recipe notes that she added small red potatoes, a smart and timesaving tweak. Try the recipe and leave your own note; other cooks will thank you.
For something meatless and beautifully verdant to perk up your winter table, Priya Krishna’s coconut saag is bright and gingery, with a creamy, slightly sweet sauce built on a can of coconut milk. Priya notes that you can use either paneer cheese (or halloumi or feta) or even tofu to make this, so it’s both adaptable and vegan-friendly.
If you have already had Samantha’s skillet cookie for dessert, or if you simply need more, how about a bowlful of Mark Bittman’s cozy bread pudding? Enjoy its vanilla-scented custard warm from the pan or eat it cold for breakfast topped with satsuma or other citrus segments to add a tangy, juicy pop.
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That’s all for now, I’ll see you on Wednesday.
