Mushroom Stuffed Filet Mignon

MUSHROOM STUFFED FILET MIGNON
WITH COGNAC PEPPERCORN SAUCE
2 servings

 2 filet mignon steaks approx 2 ½&rdquo thick

½ oz. dried porcini mushrooms

½ oz. dried shiitake mushrooms

½ oz. dried chanterelle mushrooms

¾ cup cognac

olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

6 Tbl. Shallots, minced

2 tsp. fresh thyme

cracked pepper

kosher salt

 In a large bowl, place dried mushrooms. Pour heated cognac over mushrooms. Let stand 2 hours.  Drain mushrooms, saving cognac-mushroom liquid  for the peppercorn sauce.  Finely chop the garlic, shallots and mushrooms.  Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.  Add shallots and garlic, sauté 1 minute.  Add chopped mushrooms, sauté another 5 minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Remove from heat, cool and add fresh thyme.  Salt and pepper the steaks.  Cut small pockets or slits (approx. 1 ½&rdquo wide by 1 ½&rdquo deep) in the side of each steak.  Press ½ of the mushroom dressing into each steak.  If necessary, secure pockets with toothpicks. 

Prepare charcoal/wood fire.  Arrange coals to have hot section to sear and medium section to finish cooking.  Place steaks on hot section and sear for 2 minutes on each side.  Move steaks to medium section and grill for 4 minutes on each side.  Remove from grill , tent with foil.  Let rest for 5 minutes. 

 COGNAC PEPPERCORN SAUCE

 2 Tbl. Unsalted butter

2 Tbl. Chopped shallots

2 Tbl. Crushed green and pink peppercorns

½ cup cognac-mushroom liquid (drained from mushrooms)

½ cup heavy whipping cream

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbl. Chopped fresh dill

In a medium frying pan over medium heat, melt butter.  Add shallots and peppercorns. Saute until shallots are soft.  Add cognac and cook until liquid is reduced by half.  Add cream and simmer for minutes.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and dill.  Spoon over the top of the filet mignon steaks once on the final serving plate.

Serve with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh garden green beans and  JOHN CHRISTOPHER CELLARS  wine Reckless or journey 94550.

 1^st place at 2007 Alameda County Fair Beef is King contest &ndash Matt Feltz, winner