Hello again everyone! I am glad to be back and to start the new year off right I thought I would share this recipe for Peppercorn Crusted Steak. Every once in a while I crave a perfectly cooked steak, and I prefer to cook it at home rather than go to a restaurant. For this recipe, I coat the steak with freshly cracked peppercorns, and serve it with a savory mushroom cream sauce that compliments the steak nicely.

Serves: 2

For the steaks you will need:

• 2 (1/2 pound) top sirloin steaks, about 1 inch thick
• 4 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper (about 1 teaspoon for each side of the steak)
• Salt
• granulated garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Sprinkle each side of the steak lightly with kosher salt and granulated garlic. Then sprinkle each side with about 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. (Note:  The pepper will pretty much coat the entire side of the meat. Use more or less if you need to).
3. Place the steak in the pan and don’t touch it until it is time to turn it, about 3- 4 minutes per side for medium rare, 5-7 for medium well, 8-10 minutes for well done. (Note: The secret to the perfect crust, is to cook the meat in a medium- hot pan and NOT touch it. It will be fine, I know you want to pick it up and look at it as its cooking but don’t, resist all temptations. Trust me, it’s for the best).
4. Remove the steak from the pan, set on a plate and cover. Let rest for 10 minutes, it will continue to cook during this time. (Note: This is a very important step because if you cut the meat too early all of the juices will escape leaving you with a very tough piece of meat.) While the steak is resting, prepare your mushroom cream sauce.

For the mushroom cream sauce you will need:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup half and half
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. In the same pan that you cook the steaks in, add the olive oil, mushrooms, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes or until mushrooms begin to soften and turn a golden color.
2. Next add beef broth, be sure to scape all the yummy bits off the bottom. (Note: The pan will be very hot so this will create a lot of steam, be careful).
3. Reduce the heat, add the half and half. Stir constantly as you bring it to a boil. Cook until the sauce thickens, it should coat the back of a spoon.
4. Spoon over the steak and serve.

See, you don’t need to go to a big fancy expensive steak house to get a great steak. Enjoy!