BBQ Filet Mignon Burger with 10 Pepper Mix

How do you turn up the standard BBQ hotdogs and hamburgers.. Start by making lobster rolls on hotdog buns like the previous post.  Then, instead of hamburgers you make filet mignon burgers.  Thats right!  You cook a whole filet loin on the grill then slice thick cuts, top it with slow cooked peppers and provolone cheese, put it on a potato bun and then of course serve on paper plates.  Thanks to Harout and everyone else who joined, it was a great day. This takes 1.5 hours, costs $75 and feeds 20 people.

Slow Cooked 10 Pepper Mix
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 orange bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 cubanelle pepper, sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
1 Thai green chili, sliced
1 Anaheim red pepper, sliced
1 finger hot pepper, sliced
1 Pablano pepper, sliced
1 serano pepper, sliced
1 vidallia onion, sliced
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil

Put all peppers in a hot skillet with olive oil and butter on medium heat.  Cook for 5 minutes then turn the heat down to medium low and let simmer 30 minutes or more.  Season with salt and pepper and serve on anything.

Chateau Briand
This French term is used to describe the entire filet mignon loin cooked whole.  I trimmed the fat and silverskin off of the loin and sliced off the tip and end piece leaving one large piece of meat about 2 feet long.  I seasoned this meat with salt, pepper, fresh marjoram and olive oil.  I seared it on all sides on a hot grill until it good great color, about 20 minutes total, then left it on the top rack of the grill for an additional 10 minutes.  I let it rest 15 minutes then sliced into the most beautifully cooked filet mignon ever.

Toss it on a bun and top it with the pepper mix and Provolone cheese.  Buon apetito!!

Braised Rabbit with Almond Puree and Sauteed Swiss Chard

This somewhat complex dish is a traditional northern Italian preparation of rabbit. I added a few ingredients to customize the dish and add some earthy and delicious flavors. It costs about $30, takes 1.5 hours and fed two very hungry men.

Braised Rabbit

1/2 a farm raised rabbit, cut to three pieces

1/2 organic white onion, chopped,

2 large organic carrots, peeled and chopped

1 organic leek, chopped

1 organic jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped

2 organic celery stalks, chopped

8 cloves organic garlic, chopped

1/2 cup orange juice

2 tangerines, juiced and zested (optional, oranges are a good sub)

1 bunch fresh thyme, whole

1 cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 cup flour

Remove rabbit from the package and clean. In a small pyrex bowl place the rabbit with 1/8 cup of olive oil, crushed red pepper, one tangerine juiced and zested, salt and 3 cloves of garlic and let sit for at least an hour. Start the oven at 350. Start a large dutch oven or LeCrusset on medium heat and add olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Remove rabbit from marinade and pat dry. Dust the rabbit in the flour and shake off excess. Sear the rabbit till golden on each side, about 5 minutes. Remove and let rest on a baking rack. In the same pan add a bit more olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter. Add onions, carrots, peppers, leeks, celery and garlic and cook for 7 minutes or until onions become translucent. Deglaze the pan with some white wine or clear alcohol, I used cointreau to stick to the orange theme. Now add orange juice, tangerine juice, tangerine zest, chicken stock and thyme. Bring this mixture to a lite booil and then add the rabbit pieces. Cover the pot and place the whole thing in the oven for 45 minutes.

Remove the rabbit pieces and set aside. Strain the remaining liquid and place the strained liquid in a small saucepan. Place on low to reduce, add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon braising liquid sauce over the rabbit.

Almond Puree

1/2 cup blanched and peeled almond (you can buy them like this)

2 organic bartlet pears, halved and cored

2 organic gala apples, halved and cored

1/4 organic leek, thin sliced

1 tablespoon truffle honey

1/8 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons of water

salt and white pepper

Place the almonds and leeks along withe the pears and apples cut side down on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 or until pears and apples are soft. Peel skins from apples and pears and place all the cooked items plus the truffle honey in a blender or food processor. Start pureeing and slowly add the olive oil. Then add the water to get a smooth even consistency. Season to taste.

Sauteed Swiss Chard

2 bunches organic swiss chard, stemmed and chopped

6 cloves organic garlic, medium chop

1/2 organic red onion, medium dice

3 tablespoons of butter

3 tablespoon olive oil

Start a large saute pan on medium low heat. Add olive oil and butter then onions and garlic. Let cook for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally until the onions and garlic are soft and lightly golden. Add chard and toss, let cook 7 to 10 minutes and season with salt and pepper.

Plate it all up and get to grubbing! Buon Apetito!!