Elegant Beef Tenderloin

By á-177742

An elegant dinner doesn't have to take all day to prepare. Beef tenderloin makes a luxurious main course and also provides the luxury off time, as it cooks so quickly. Add steamed or stirfried broccoli and pepper strips for a festive flair. Finish the dinner with everyone's favorite dessert, homemade warm chocolate cake with molten centers, or find something equally dark and satisfying at a bakery.

Ingredients

• 1 piece (2 pounds) beef tenderloin • 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil. • 1/3 cup cognac or brandy
• I teaspoon salt • 1 cup whipping cream or half-and-half
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
• 1 large shallot, minced

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Melt oil in medium skillet over high heat.
3. Season beef with salt and pepper.
4. Place in skillet and brown quickly on all sides.
5. Place beef on a foil-lined roasting pan.
6. Cook to medium rare, 25 minutes, or until instant read thermometer reads about 130 degrees.
7. Remove tenderloin from pan; let rest, loosely tented with foil.

8. Meanwhile, melt butter in original skillet over medium heat.
9. Add shallots; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 1 minute.
10. Add mushrooms; cook 4 minutes.
11. Pour cognac into pan; increase heat to high.
12. Boil, scraping bottom of pan to loosen brown bits, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
13. Stir in cream, mustard and thyme. Boil until cream has reduced and thickened, about 5 minutes.
14. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, as needed.
15. Remove from heat. Slice beef into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
16. Pour sauce over slices to serve to go