Like many couples starting out, Dave and I felt a lot of pressure to go out and get a fancy meal on our first Valentine’s Day. We had a multi-course set meal at a nice place, but honestly, it disappointed. Since then we’ve often opted to stay at home and cook something special together. We really love steak but don’t have it very often so this kind of occasion is perfect to indulge and buy the nicest steak we can.
This time I’ve made it with a really rich, pink peppercorn cream sauce. It isn’t too complicated to throw together and has only a handful of ingredients. The bright peppery flavor and color of the pink peppercorns make it a little different and special, and the cream makes it nice and rich. You see it served here with a light salad but you could easily up the ante with some creamy mashed potatoes or a butternut squash gratin. This meal will never disappoint and it will be a small fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal.
This post is part of the Second Annual Good Cookies Food Bloggers’ Valentine’s Event. We are raising money to benefit Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, an organization that raises money for childhood cancer research. We have all donated to this great cause, and we are asking you to do the same to help make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer.
Cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S. Currently, there are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer. With less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget going to all childhood cancer combined, it’s important for all of us to get involved.
Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer! Our goal was to raise at least $3000. Thanks to blogger participation, we have reached that goal with these three companies matching our donations up to $3000: Dixie Crystals, Mediavine and OXO. However, we can still raise more for this great cause, with 100% going straight to this great organization.
Donate here.
- 1 NY strip steak at least 1 inch thick, 12-16 ounces
- kosher salt
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp shallot, minced
- 1/4 cup brandy or cognac
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp pink peppercorns, lightly crushed
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
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Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Pat the steak dry and salt heavily with kosher salt.
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Place the steak in the skillet and sear for about a minute. Flip once the steak easily releases from the skillet and sear on the other side for about one minute. Cook for about six minutes, flipping every minute or so until the steak is cooked to your liking (medium-rare is about 125-130 degrees).
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Set the steak in a oven proof dish in the oven. Pour off any excess fat from the skillet and lower the heat to medium. Add the butter and cook the shallots a few minutes until soft and golden.
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Add the brandy (or cognac) off the heat to deglaze the pan, scraping up the brown bits. Cook until it just glazes the pan. Add the cream, peppercorns, and salt. Reduce by half.
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Add any juices that have accumulated from the steak to the sauce. Slice the steak and top with sauce.
- I recommend searing the steak in a cast iron skillet (affiliate link).
- If you get nervous about cooking your steak to the right temperature, I recommend a digital meat thermometer (affiliate link).
- You can find pink peppercorns at most fine grocery stores or online (affiliate link).
For all the other wonderful recipes for this event:
Yellow Heart-Shaped Rainbow Funfetti Cookies from Julie of The Little Kitchen
Peanut Butter Cookie Cake from Julie of Julie Blanner
Cherry Coconut Macaroons from Miranda of Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
Brownie Cookies from Mel of Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
No-Bake Chocolate Candy Cookies from Debi of Life Currents
Double Dark Chocolate Chery Black Forest Cookies from Jamie of Southern Revivals
White Chocolate Valentine Madeleine Cookies from Marlynn of Urban Bliss Life
Pillowy Soft Sugar Cookies from Stephie of Stephie Cooks
Creamy Beet Risotto from Rachel of Copper & Verdigris
Valentine’s Day Chocolate Sugar Cookies from Denise of Chez Us
Red Velvet Donuts from Gwynn of Swirls of Flavor
S’mores Brown Butter Panbanging Cookies from Marybeth of babysavers
Gluten-Free Chocolate Kiss Cookies from Audrey of Mama Knows Gluten Free
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies from Brianna of Flippin’ Delicious
Rose Meringue Cookies from Kirsten of Comfortably Domestic
Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Curry from Shashi of Savory Spin
Double Chocolate Meringue Cookies from Dee of Meatloaf and Melodrama
White Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie from Sarah of Sarah Cooks the Books
Cream Wafer Cookies from Kelly of Live Laugh Rowe
White Chocolate and Raspberry Cookies from Wanda of My Sweet Zepol
Raspberry Fudge Cookies from Jessica of A Kitchen Addiction
Raspberry Cookies from Courtney of Know Your Produce
Syltkakor Raspberry Jam Cookies from Megan of Stetted
No-Bake Chocolate Tart from Rachel of Rachel Cooks
Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies from Angela of About a Mom
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies from Lisa of TasteCookSip
Chai Latte Shortbread Hearts from Sue of It’s Okay to Eat the Cupcake
Soft and Sweet Sugar Cookie Bars from Carlee of Cooking With Carlee
Strawberry and Cream Cookies from Ashley of A Cup of Charming
Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies from Lisa of Blogghetti
Galete Waffle Cookies from Shaina of Food for My Family
Almond Shortbread Cookies from Denise of addicted 2 recipes
Easy Strawberry Fudge from Chrysa of Thrifty Jinxy
Valentine’s Day Mug Hug Cookies from Aimee of Southern From Scratch
Doughnut Sandwich Cookies from Bree of Baked Bree
Chocolate Nutella Cookies from Melissa of Modern Honey
Easy Crinkle Cookies from Amy of The Nifty Foodie
Chocolate Sugar Cookies from Becca of The Salted Cookie
Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies from Sara of Confectionary Tales
Meringue Cookies from Sara of My Imperfect Kitchen
Rose White Hot Chocolate from Susannah of Feast + West
Gluten Free Lavendar Shortbread Cookies from Carolann of Apron Warrior
Fruit Filled Chocolate Waffle Cones from Nicole of For the Love of Food
Chocolate and Vanilla Sweetheart Cookies from Sheila of Life, Love, and Good Food
Raspberry Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies from Nancy of The Bitter Side of Sweet
Chai Spiced Snickerdoodle Cookies from Ashley of Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
Heart Happy Valentine Cookie Chocolate Cheesecake from TammyJo of The Chocolate Cult
Persian rice cookies from Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking
Chocolate Dipped Espresso Shortbread Cookies from Julianne of Beyond Frosting
Fudgy Chocolate Sixlets Cookies from Barbara of Barbara Bakes
Bake Chocolate Donuts with Cherry Glaze from Deb of Taste & Tell
A perfect recipe for a romantic dinner! Happy to be part of this great fundraiser with you!
I love events like this because I get to *meet* new bloggers! Can’t wait to check out everyone’s recipes 🙂
So nice and yummy. I love it too tasty will recommend to my friends