"Steakhouse" Steaks & Stuffed Potatoes

With Valentine's Day just around the corner and all the "good" restaurants busy I want to share a dinner that is, quite honestly, better than you will get at a restaurant on V Day- and will cost less!

"Steakhouse" Seared Steak and Stuffed Baked Potato

For the steak:

You can buy filets that are already cut or you can buy a tenderloin and cut the filets.
Preheat oven to 425F.

Season filets with salt and pepper. Heat 2T olive oil in an oven-proof pan over medium high heat for 5 minutes.
Sear filets on one side for 4-5 minutes. Turn them over and place the pan in the oven and roast to required doneness
Rare: Sear 5 minutes, Roast 5 minutes
Medium Rare: Sear 5 minutes, Roast 7 minutes
Medium: Sear 5 minutes, Roast 9 minutes
Let filets rest 5 minutes before serving.

And now for the essential side:

Stuffed Baked Potato with bacon, Cheddar and horseradish sour cream
From Cuisine magazine.

Preheat oven to 450F. Wash potaotes, pierce with a fork. Place in a plastic bag and coat with oil. Bake directly on oven rack for 1 hour or until tender when pierced.

Remove potatoes from oven. While hot cut off 1/4 inch, lengthwise (think how Subway sandwiches used to be cut).

Scoop flesh into a bowl, being careful not to tear the skins. Use a potato ricer (or mash) the potatoes.

Fold in to potatoes:
1/2 c. warm half & half (I use whole milk- just let it set out a bit)
1/2 c. grated sharp Cheddar
1/3 c. cooked, crumbled bacon
1/2 stick softened, unsalted butter
Salt to taste

Stuff mixture into potatoes. Place potatoes on baking sheet lined with a cooling rack or parchment paper.

For topping mix:
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. mayonnaise
2 T. prepared horseradish (usually near the seafood)
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Garnish with 2 T chives (fresh if you can get them)

Now is a good time to begin the steaks. Right after you put the steaks on to sear place the potatoes in the oven. The potatoes need to bake about 10 minutes, until the tops are golden.

When baking is done:
Remove steaks to let rest, remove potatoes and top with sour cream horseradish mixture. Garnish with chives.

Perfect timing! Serve and enjoy the praise.

**If you want to make the potatoes a day ahead- you can! Just bake them at 350F for 25-30 minutes.