Beef Funghetto Food

FILET OF BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Place the beef on a baking sheet and pat the outside dry with a paper towel. Spread the butter on with your hands. Sprinkle evenly with the salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for exactly 22 minutes for rare and 25 minutes for medium-rare.
• Remove the beef from the oven, cover it tightly with aluminum foil, and allow it to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. Remove the strings and slice the filet thickly.

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT (FUNGHETTO)

Steps:

• For the peppers: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Spray a small baking dish or baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Arrange the peppers, cut side-up, on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape, about 20 minutes.
• For the eggplant: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add the eggplant in batches and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• For the filling: Combine the cooked eggplant, tomato-basil sauce, olives, capers, salt and pepper in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Spoon the filling into the bell peppers and sprinkle the topping over the filling. Drizzle with the olive oil and broil until a golden crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes.

TOURNEDOS OF BEEF IN MUSHROOM, MUSTARD AND RED WINE SAUCE WITH CARAMELIZED ONION-POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place bread on a work surface and using a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut a round crouton from the center of each piece of bread. Brush both sides of the croutons with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place the croutons on a baking sheet and bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over high heat. Season the fillets with salt and press the coarsely cracked black pepper onto 1 side of each fillet. Place the fillets pepper-side down into the skillet and sear until golden brown, turn the fillets over and continue cooking for 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare doneness. Remove the steaks to a plate. Remove all but 3 tablespoons of the fat in the pan and return to high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden brown and their liquid has evaporated. Add the shallots and cook until soft. Add the red wine and reduce by half. Add the broth and cook until reduced by half. Whisk in the mustard and butter and cook for 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place each fillet on top of a crouton and spoon some of the sauce over.
• Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook slowly until caramelized. Add the garlic and balsamic vinegar and cook for 2 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch baking pan a place a layer of potatoes on the bottom and season with salt and pepper. Spoon 1/5 of the onion mixture over the potatoes and top with 1/4 cup of the heavy cream and a tablespoon of parsley. Repeat to make 5 layers. Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the potatoes. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft and the cream has been absorbed.

BREADED BEEF

Steps:

• Have your butcher slice the rump roast on the lunch meat slicer (tell him a little thicker than see-through).
• This recipe is nice because it's sliced thin, it's always tender so you can get away with using a little cheaper piece of meat.
• If you can't get it sliced this way, freezer meat for a few hours (about 1/2 frozen) and slice thin slices.
• Mix the eggs and water in a large bowl.
• On a LARGE sheet of foil--mix bread crumbs, garlic powder, salt and grated cheese (garlic and grated cheese-add however much to your taste--these are general measurements). Dip RAW sliced beef in egg and than bread crumbs (I put them on another large sheet of foil-2 pieces side by side and than I separate them with wax paper because I always make double this recipe and freeze some and this makes it easier to get them apart).
• If you run out of egg or bread crumb mixture just make a little more.
• Heat oil in large frying pan, put 2-3 slices in pan and fry until just browned (about 2 minutes the 1 st side and 1 minute the 2nd side).
• Drain on paper towels.
• Add more oil to the pan as needed.
• Serve with a squeeze of sliced lemon. Fantastic hot or room temperature.