Tender filets in a bourbon cream sauce … to die for !

Peppered Filets with Sauteed Spinach

2 servings
287 calories per serving

Beef:
2 4 oz. filet mignons
¼ t kosher salt
½ t cracked black peppercorns
2 t oil
2 T bourbon
¼ c beef broth
1 T shallots, minced
2 T half and half

Spinach:
½ t oil
½ c grape tomatoes, halved
1 t garlic clove, minced
6 c fresh spinach
1 t lemon juice
1/8 t kosher salt
1/8 t black pepper

Season filets with ¼ t salt and press the peppercorns into one side of each filet. Heat oil in a skillet and add filets. Cook 6-7 minutes per side then remove from pan and keep warm. Remove pan from heat and add bourbon – be very careful –the alcohol will ignite and burn off in this step… return to heat and burn off alcohol then simmer until sauce is reduced by half then add the half and half. Heat ½ t oil and sauté tomatoes and garlic for a few minutes and then add spinach and sauté for 2 minutes. Season with juice, salt and pepper. Plate steak with sauce over top and the spinach on the side.

The broth in this soup tastes like it’s been simmered for hours – it has a great depth of flavor. But this soup takes just 20 minutes or so of simmering time. And with all the veggies and pasta, it ends up being quite a hearty, thick soup. Just add some water during the last 7 minutes cooking time if you like it a little thinner. But I like gruely soup

Italian Bean Soup

6 servings
190 calories per serving

1 t oil
½ c diced Canadian bacon
½ c chopped green bell pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced
28 oz. can peeled tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped
14.5 oz. chicken broth
½ c orzo
15.5 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
8 oz. frozen cut green beans
¼ c chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
¼ t celery salt

In a large pan heat oil on medium high heat. Add bacon, green pepper and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth and pasta and bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer 12 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in kidney beans, green beans, salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt and basil and cook 7 minutes.