Valentine's Day Dinner

We usually go out to dinner for Valentine's Day but this year I have decided to stay in and cook. I know Crazy right? I made this meal a few weeks ago and it was scrumptious! Filet with a peppercorn sauce and creamed spinach. I know that filet can be pricey but I have been catching them on sale at Safeway for $9.99 a pound and the last time I purchased them from our local butcher I was able to get three 6 oz filets for just a little over $16.00.  The recipe below is for two 6 oz filets but you will defiantly have enough sauce for up to four.

For the filet :
2 - 4   6 oz filets
2 Tbs butter
1/4 cup Brandy
1 teaspoon peppercorns cracked (put them in a sandwich bag and hit them a few times with a meat tenderizer)or if you have a pepper mill just loosed the grinder a bit by unscrewing it
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 Tbs Dijon Mustard

Bring your filets to room temperature
Pat dry with a paper towel and lightly season with salt and pepper on each side
Pre heat the oven to 500 degrees
In an oven safe pan on med-high heat melt the butter
Once the pan his hot add the steaks and cook for 3 minutes on each side (less if you like them cooked Medium)
Remove from the stove top and place them in the oven for another 3 minutes
After 3 minutes remove the pan from the oven and place the steaks on a plate and cover with foil
Return the pan to the stove top over medium heat.
Using a whisk stir in the Dijon and Brandy to loosen all the good stuff on the bottom of the pan.
Heat for about 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and peppercorns.
Spoon over steak and serve.

With this filet I usually serve creamed spinach. If your not a fan of spinach I dare you to try this recipe and not love it!

2 - 9oz bags of baby spinach
1/2 stick of  butter plus 2 Tbs
2 Cups Milk
2 crushed cloves of garlic
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 Tbs flour

In a sauce pan melt the 1/2 stick of butter
Stir in flour while whisking . Cook for roughly 3 minutes.
Toss in the garlic and onion and cook for another minute.
Slowly whisk in the milk until you get the desired consistency whisking constantly.
Season with salt and pepper.

In another pan melt the remaining butter and saute the spinach just until it wilts. (2-3 minutes)

Toss with white sauce mixture and serve with the steaks. Yum!

The entire meal (including wine) coast me roughly $30.00.