Valentine's Dinner At Home: Part Three

Valentine's Dinner at Home is a 3 part content series that focuses on romantic date night meal plan recipes by Kasey Bell. Kasey believes that date nights at home are not only more economical but can also be more personal and romantic.

The Perfect Steak! Filet Mignon with a Béarnaise Sauce, Stuffed Avocados, and Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping.

This meal is great to make with your valentine; one can make the steak while the other is making the stuffed avocados.  If you want to surprise your valentine with this dinner, the stuffed avocados can be made ahead and stored in the fridge.

Serves 2

Filet Mignon with Béarnaise Sauce

2 filet mignon steaks (about 5 oz each)

1 tbl freshly ground black pepper

2 tbl kosher salt 

2 tbl red wine

2 tbl balsamic vinegar

1 tbl butter

1 tbl peanut oil*

Stuffed Avocados

1 avocado

2 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 lemon, zested and juice

1 tsp salt

Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

1 store bought cheesecake

2 cups thinly sliced strawberries

2 tbl sugar

2 tbl water

Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  Season both sides of the steaks liberally with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and roll in light coating of peanut oil*.  Heat an oven proof skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat for at least 5 minutes (until as hot as it will get).  Sear filets in the skillet for 30 seconds each side.  Do not move or touch steaks for 30 seconds each side.  This will create the perfect crust on the outside.  Then transfer steaks to the oven for an additional 2 minutes each side.  When steaks are done allow to rest** for at least 5 minutes while covered in foil. 

Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit.  Scoop out the flesh and save the skin.  Dice the avocado flesh, place in a bowl and add the chopped tomatoes, onion, parsley, salt, lemon juice and zest.  Mix to combine and place back inside the avocado skin to serve.

For Dessert: Add 1 1/2 cups of the thinly sliced strawberries, water and sugar to a sauce pan over medium heat, until the strawberries concentrate down and thicken.  Spread over cheesecake and top with the leftover 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries.

Tips:

* Peanut oil is ideal, but if you don't have it you can substitute for canola oil (don't use butter or olive oil, because they burn at too low of a temperature and will become distorted and ruin the steak). 

** The best way to rest a steak is elevated on an upside down saucer or bowl so that the juices run down, away from the steak instead of pooling around it and ruining the crust you worked so hard for on the outside.