Getting Stuffed for Valentines Delight (Meat)

Member Name: belfin

Product:	Meat
Date:	11/02/06 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The way to a man's heart and all that

Disadvantages: Chopping the onion could give you the red eye

This one is for all you romantics out there who want to make their partner a special meal instead of just taking them out, which although can be lovely, lacks that personal touch. If you cook this to perfection you will have your partner purring with delight by the end of it.

***Savoury Stuffed Fillet***

*Ingredients*

2 tsp Vegetable Oil
1 Onion peeled and finely chopped
150g/5oz Chestnut Mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 tsp fresh Tarragon, chopped
1 tsp Dark Soy Sauce
Salt and Black Pepper
900g/2lb Lean Beef Fillet, trimmed
Flat Leaf Parsley and Baby Carrots to garnish

*How to cook it*

Before you start preheat the oven to 230 deg C/450 deg F or Gas Mark 8 and heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan.

Fry the onion in the pan for roughly 4 minutes until it has softened and then add the mushrooms, tarragon and soy sauce. Cook this mixture for 3 minutes and then add some seasoning. Take the pan off the heat.

Cut halfway through the long side of the beef fellet and open it up so you can spoon your filling into the middle. Close it back up and secure it together with some string at approximately 1" intervals. Season your beef over the top with some pepper.

Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan on a high heat and add the beef until it has browned on both sides. This done you transfer it into a roasting tin and bake for 15 minutes for a rare joint or 18 minutes for a medium finish. Obviously if you like your meat well done then leave it for another couple of minutes but be careful not to overcook as it will dry out.

Before carving you should cover the beef with foil and leave to stand for 10 minutes. Arrange the slices on a circular serving platter and garnish with the carrots and parsley in the centre to make professional looking dish that you would love to see in any restaurant.

Serve this with boiled or roast potatoes and a selection of vegetables to your liking.

*Other Info*

This dish has 232 calories and will serve up to 6 comfortably so it's a good meal for those of you watching your weight. It also means you can serve up a lushious dessert and not feel too guilty. There are also 10g of saturated fat in this meal.

*My thoughts*

Well it's always nice to get a good bit of meat around Valentine's day and this won't let you down. If you're not too keen on beef then a boned loin of lamb makes a good alternative. We love to serve this with fresh peas and new potatoes when you can get them in season. Other favourites are parsnips, broccoli or swede.

It's not too difficult to prepare for those of you who aren't master chefs out there and serving with a nice cheeky red will score you points with your loved one.

Enjoy your Valentine's day whatever you choose to do but if you do try this let me know if it works.

Summary: Tasty bit of beef.