Steak Au Poivre with Roasted Potatoes and Haricots Verts
Serves 2 people
Ingredients
-1/2 lb fingerling potatoes, washed
-3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
-salt and freshly ground black pepper
-1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
-2 8 oz-strip steaks
-2 tbsp black peppercorns, crushed
-4 tbsp unsalted butter
-1/2 lb haricots verts (French green beans), washed
-1 shallot, finely chopped
-1/2 cup brandy
-1 cup low-sodium beef broth
-1 tbsp green peppercorns, in brine, drained and coarsely chopped
-1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss the potatoes with 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary and roast on a baking sheet for 25 minutes, until browned and fork tender.
2. While the potatoes roast, coat the steaks with crushed peppercorns. Heat 2 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet or stainless steel sauté pan over medium high heat. Add the steaks to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until a crust has formed. Flip the steaks and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, until medium rare. Transfer the steaks to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
3. Place a vegetable steamer basket into a pot with an inch of water in it. Place the haricots verts in the steamer basket, cover the pot, and steam for 5 minutes, or until the beans are tender yet still firm and bright green. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
4. Over medium heat, melt the remaining 2 Tbsp butter in the pan you used to cook the steak. Add the shallot and cook until soft. Stir in the brandy, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits. Add the broth and green peppercorns, boiling until slightly reduced. Stir in the cream. Boil for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the sauce has thickened. Spoon the sauce over the steaks and arrange the haricots verts and potatoes.
Healthy Tip!
Ever heard of a Negative Nancy? Few people take pride in being known as such, and even fewer care to be around them. Studies show that personality traits like optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. Positive thinking is a key part of effective stress management and begins with self-talk, which is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head every day. These thoughts can be positive or negative. What’s important is that you learn to focus on the positive, and approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. Some proven benefits of positive thinking include increased life span, lower rates of depression, greater resistance to the common cold, reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, etc. The list goes on. So, while we may not be able to control the initial thoughts that run through our minds, we at least can make some lemonade about it and look on the bright side. If you lighten up, things will brighten up!