Fancy-Schmancy Gourmet Dinner

I made my weekly trip to my favorite enormous grocery store today, and upon browsing the meat section, I found that beef tenderloin was on sale, and suddenly, all I wanted was some tenderloin with a pan sauce, horseradish cream, and a big roasted sweet potato. I was so consumed by my thoughts of dinner that I forgot to get Adam’s hot dogs, the red wine for another meal, and eggs! (On a side note, I have every intent on taking you all on a photo tour of this fantastic store! I was going to do it today, but alas, I forot my camera!)

The official title of tonight’s dinner that wouldn’t fit in the title bar without looking pretentious is:

Pan-roasted Beef Tenderloin with Pomegranate Reduction and Horseradish Cream

Phew! That’s a mouthful (no pun intended!) This is a dinner which, if it were on a restaurant menu, I’d order. If someone served it to me at a dinner party, I’d be forever grateful. Since I made it myself, there’s leftovers and I know the recipe, so I can make it whenever I want!

Seriously restaurant-worthy!

These are some of the simplest recipes I’ve ever made, with the absolutely best results!

Pan-Roasted Tenderloin

Ingredients

1 piece beef tenderloin, about 1.5 lbs

fresh ground black pepper

garlic powder

salt

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 tsp olive oil

6 oz. POM Wonderful juice (or any Pomegranate juice)

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 400*. Liberally rub both sides of the tenderloin with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat the olive oil and chopped garlic in an oven-safe pan. Sear the meat on both sides, then put in the oven and cook until medium- to medium-rare, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and pan, and allow to sit at least 5 minutes before carving. While the meat is resting, return the pan to stovetop heat, and add pomegranate juice, scraping the bottom of the pan while it simmers. Reduce by at least half, then drizzle the reduction over the sliced steak.

Simple Horseradish Cream

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. prepared horseradish

1/4 c. fat free sour cream.

Directions

Mix ingredients together. Taste and adjust to your liking. Serve.

I took this really awesome close-up of my steak with a splatter of the pomegranate reduction that I just have to show you… I couldn’t decide whether to do the full-plate shot or this one, so you get both!

see? It's a great shot!

I had a simple baked sweet potato with some Smart Balance buttery spread and cinnamon on the side and I’m pleasantly full. If I get hungry later tonight, I’ll make some pudding with strawberries…

Thanks to everyone for your supportive comments on my post the other day; it’s really wonderful to know that I have so many people reading and honestly caring! It makes me feel so great that with all my issues and weirdnesses, there are other people out there who “get it” besides just my few close friends.

This is for each and every one of you!

Have a fantastic evening!

xoxo,

P.S. HangryPants is giving away Zoe’s Granola here but I want it, so don’t enter!