Easy Steakhouse Quality Meal/If You Want to Impress Your Boyfriend

A few months ago, I really wanted to have a filet for dinner. Since I couldn't just have a plain filet by itself, I also decided to make myself some spinach with garlic and a twice baked potato as sides. Then I went crazy and made myself a cheese platter. For some reason, I just felt like making and eating a nice steak dinner. It turned out to be so good that I made the same meal for a boyfriend the next week, and he was thoroughly impressed! Not only was it SO nice to have an awesome steak with all of the fixins right in the privacy of your living room, it was hotter (temperature wise) than any steak I've ever gotten at a restaurant which I thought was nice.

For this meal, I went to Whole Foods (don't ever read the book "Eating Animals"...you will never be able to buy regular meat again) and purchased 2 pieces of beef tenderloin. After I asked the butcher what the farm was like where they came from (damn book), he was kind enough to slice off two 2-inch thick pieces of beef tenderloin for my delicious meal. I have also used a boneless NY Strip, cut into 2 pieces, and it was equally good. No need to purchase a cut of meat the size of your face, just get something that will be about 4 or 5 oz of meat per person.

Also while at Whole Foods, get a bag of fresh spinach, like the kind you would use for a salad. You will also need to grab some garlic, one baking potato, a small white or yellow onion, shredded cheddar cheese, a small container of sour cream, and some paprika. Also some olive oil if you don't have it. While you're at it, spend the extra $8 and invest in a good looking hunk of parmesan cheese....It will last for a long time in your fridge and you can grate some on top of the spinach and the potatoes. If you want to make a cheese platter, buy a wedge of soft blue cheese and some triscuits.

The thing that takes the longest to make in this whole meal is the twice baked potato. If you want, just buy 2 baking potatoes at the store and serve baked potatoes (potatoes, poke holes, 350 degree oven, one hour). But, twice baked, for the extra work, are SO good. Side note: when I made this for myself, I wrapped the other twice baked potato (uncooked) in foil and put it in the freezer for another time. This recipe is going to sound complicated, but, trust me it is worth it to learn and it is NOT actually hard.

Set a nice table, even if you are eating by yourself. If you are eating with another person, set out placemats, napkins, silverware, filled water glasses and 2 wine glasses. I rarely light candles, but if you think it would be a nice touch, go for it. Side note: the table settings look perfectly lovely on a coffee table (that's where I ate both times).

Here we go:

Set out your cheese platter if you want to have one (put cheese and crackers on a plate).

First,

Twice Baked Potatoes- 4 servings

Ingredients:

-2 baking potatoes

-1/2 cup of sour cream

-3/4-1 cup of grated cheddar cheese (I ended up grating my own because it was significantly less expensive than buying pre-grated in a bag. Either is fine.)

-1/4 cup grated white onion (slightly less than 1/2 small onion)

-1 tbs butter

-1 tsp salt

-1 tsp pepper

-1 tsp paprika

Directions:

-Wash the potatoes and poke holes in the with a fork. Bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour, or until they are soft. You can also microwave them to speed up the process if you are short on time.

-Slice the potatoes in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the white part of the potato halves and put it into a mixing bowl with all of the other ingredients except the paprika. Mix together so that it looks kind of like mashed potatoes.

-Spoon the mashed potato mixture back into the potato skins and sprinkle each one with paprika.

-Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-45 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown on top.

Next step- Prepare the spinach (wash it if you have to) and mince a couple cloves of garlic for it, put aside.


Next, for The Petite Filets:
-Turn on a frying pan (med-high). The more heavy duty the skillet, the better.
-Salt and Pepper each side of the filets.
-When the pan is hot, put each of the filets in the pan. Do NOT touch them for 2 minutes. After two minutes, flip them over and do two minutes on the other side without moving them. Then, put them into the oven, one on each plate, for 5 minutes.

While the filets are finishing in the oven and have 1-2 mins left, it's Spinach time.
-Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pan you just used for the filets.
-Add the minced garlic.
-Immediately add ALL of the spinach in the bag (it seems like a lot, trust me it will cook down and be a perfect 2 serving size).
-Use tongs (same ones you used for the steaks are fine) to mix spinach around so it gets wilted. TRY not to overcook it but if you do it's not really a big deal.
-Grate some parm on it if you feel like.

Take the hot plates out of the oven that now have the potato and meat on them. Add some spinach to each plate, and serve. If you want, add a slice of blue cheese to the top of your filet for an added taste treat.

Side note on filet cooking: These times are usually pretty spot on for cooking a 2 inch thick piece of filet to medium rare. You can always cook it more, but if you make beef jerky then you have to call Dominos, so be careful.

Don't forget to have a bottle of red wine open (it should be about half way consumed by now) and an extra one on the table/coffee table/counter. Enjoy. Each bite will be SO delicious, the potatoes will be all cheesy and soft, the meat should be perfectly medium rare, and the spinach with the subtle taste of garlic and parmesan will be amazing. This meal is a real treat, and a perfect little dinner party for one, or two.

Since this is a meal that can definitely be made for one person, do a run-through by yourself before attempting to do it for another person (that's what I did). That way, you can get your times down and figure out at which points things need to happen. You will also be much more confident in your final product.


Love and Happy Hostessing!!