Sesame-Glazed Beef and Veggie Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 lb. beef steak
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup sugar snap peas
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium tamari sauce
• 1 tbsp.  sesame oil
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1 tsp. tapioca flour
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• 1 tbsp. sesame seeds

Makes 4 Servings

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. 
2. Pat the beef dry and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Add it to the hot pan and brown it for 3-4 minutes per side. 
3. Remove the beef and set aside, reserving the grease in the skillet. 
4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, until translucent. Add the broccoli florets and cook for another 3-4 minutes, until brown. Add the sugar snap peas and cook for 1-2 minutes. 
5. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl whisk together the tamari sauce, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, beef broth, and tapioca flour until dissolved. Add the sauce to the skillet, stirring to coat the vegetables. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low. 
6. Cut the steak into small pieces, about 1 inch square, and add it back to the pan, simmering for 5-7 minutes, until the beef is cooked to desired doneness. 
7. Divide vegetables and steak mixture into 4 individual bowls. Garnish with the scallions and sesame seeds and serve. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 10 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. If you are craving takeout, put down the phone and make this dish instead. This is a new take on takeout food, steak and vegetables. This dish is a flavorful take on the traditional Asian takeout. Tamari sauce is similar to soy sauce but it's gluten free and less sodium. The homemade sauce is tasty on the beef and the vegetables as well. If you don't have snow peas or sugar snap peas on hand, substitute bell peppers and the meal will be just as filling and flavorful. 

Beef and Vegetables Stew

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. butter, divided
• 1 lb. diced beef
• 1/2 cup pearl onions or chopped onions
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 8 oz. Portobello mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
• 1 cup diced turnips
• 1 tsp. gelatin powder
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/4 canned white beans, rinsed and drained (optional) 
• 2 tbsp. chopped parsley

Makes 4 Servings

1. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. 
2. Pat the beef dry and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Add the beef to the pot and brown it for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove the beef and set aside. 
3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of the butter to the pot and melt.
4. Add the onions, celery, and carrots to the pot. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
5. meanwhile, pour 1/4 cup of water into a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Set the mixture aside to soften for at least 5 minutes. 
6. Add the garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute, until golden. 
7. Add the lemon juice, tomato juice, and beef broth and stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. 
8. Add the beef and beans (if using) to the pot and bring the stew to a boil. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low. 
9. Whisk the gelatin into the water and blend to dissolve it; then add the mixture to the stew. Simmer the stew for 15-20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the broth is slightly thickened. 
10. When you are ready to serve, ladle the stew evenly into 4 bowls and garnish with the parsley. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 11 pts. with or without the beans

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Beef stew is an elegant and wonderful comfort food to enjoy. This version of beef stew is filled with tender beef, pearl onions, mushrooms and the options of white beans. If you want to make this stew with fewer carbs, make it without the beans and add a touch of diced tomatoes instead and the stew will be just as flavorful. 

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 lb. steak, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 oz. white or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 6 Servings

1. Add the olive oil to a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add the steak cubes to the pan and sauté for about 1 minute on each side or until lightly browned.
3. Remove the steak from the pan and set aside on a plate.
4. Using the same pan, sauté the onions, mushrooms and garlic until cooked and onions are transluscent, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the steak back to the skillet. 
6. Add beef broth, tomato paste and heavy cream to the pan and bring to a boil.
7. Turn the heat down and simmer until the steak becomes tender, about 15 minutes.
8. Stir in the sour cream and season with salt and pepper. 
9. Garnish with parsley and serve.

WW POINTS VALUE: ?

Note: This recipe appears on the South Beach Diet website. Beef Stroganoff is a simple and an elegant dish that can be enjoyed by everyone. This version of the dish is Keto friendly and it omits the pasta and rice. This dish is filled with meat and vegetables and is very filling. I added tomato paste to this dish for a extra kick of flavor and it makes the dish more decadent.

Mustard-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Balsamic Fig Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 lamb racks, frenched, fat removed
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. thyme, chopped
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
• 12 Mission figs, cut in quarters
• 4 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp. agave nectar
• 1 1 /2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 2 tsp. cold unsalted butter
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings (Half a rack per serving)

1. Season lamb well with salt and pepper. Let sit for 30 minutes, or preferably, overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 400 F. Combine mustard and thyme in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Heat a heavy-bottomed saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil; place lamb racks meat side down in the pan. Cook until well browned. Turn and brown on other side. The lamb will still be raw. Reserve the saute pan. 
4. Spread the mustard mixture on meat side of lamb rack. Combine bread crumbs and 2 teaspoons of the olive oil. Rub together until the bread is lightly coated. Place on a plate. 
5. Roll the meat side of the lamb into the bread crumbs to coat lightly. Place rack on a baking sheet, meat side up. Roast in a 400 F oven for 15 minutes or until bread has browned and the lamb is 125 F (medium rare). Remove to a warm spot. Let rest for 15 minutes.
6. While the lamb is roasting, place the saute pan back on the medium heat. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil and the figs, cut side down. Cook for 1-2 minutes to brown the figs, being careful not to burn the drippings in the pan. Once the figs are lightly browned, remove from the pan and reserve. Add the balsamic vinegar to the pan, reduce until almost dry. Add the agave syrup and beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Return figs to the sauce, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and gently stir in butter and lemon juice, stirring constantly to melt butter. 
7. Once the lamb has rested, cut each rack into double chops (4 per rack, 2 double chops per serving). Place chops on each dinner plate and serve with 2 tablespoons of sauce. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 10 pts. per serving

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Cookbook. Who does not enjoy lamb for dinner? The combination of Dijon mustard and lamb is heavenly delicious. The homemade sauce made from figs and balsamic vinegar makes a nice compliment to the lamb. Stirring the butter into a sauce is a classic French method called monte au beurre which means to finish with butter. A small amount of butter will go a long way adding a creamy, rich flavor and texture to the sauce. The butter also must be stirred when it's added into the sauce so it melts. If you don't have rack of lamb on hand, use lamb loin chops and/or lamb shoulders and grill or broil them instead and the meal will still be delicious. Don't forget to bring the lamb to room temperature. The lamb will have a more tender texture to it and be more flavorful too. This meal is perfect for an holiday dinner and your dinner guests will be happy. 

Provencal Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean round steak, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cups white mushrooms or cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 large carrots, sliced
• 1 (15 1/2 oz.) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1 /2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Makes 6 Servings ( 1 1 /4 cups per serving)

1. Put beef in a 5-quart slow cooker.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over meat heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and garlic; cook, stirring, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Add to slow cooker along with carrots and half of beans.
3. Put remaining beans and 1/2 cup of broth in a blender and process until smooth; stir into mushrooms mixture. Add remaining 1 cup broth, the tomatoes, oregano, salt, thyme, and pepper. Cover and cook on high until beef is fork-tender and carrots and softened, 6-7 hours.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This is what I call comfort food. Beef stew is a wonderful dish to enjoy year round. You can even enjoy this dish during the hot summer months. You can cook this in your crock pot and let it simmer for the whole day and not worry about clean up afterwards. The French certainly knew their beefy comfort foods and this beef stew certainly reminds you of France. It's loaded with beef, vegetables and herbs which means a lot of flavor. I highly recommend substituting 1/2 cup of burgundy or any French wine in place of the 1/2 cup of beef broth for an authentic Provencal flare. Plus, wine always makes beef taste better.

Peppered Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. whole black peppercorns
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 (1-lb.) lean beef tenderloin, trimmed
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2/3 cup ruby port wine
• 2 tsp. whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 low-sodium beef broth
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. unsalted butter

Makes 4 Servings (3 slices of beef & 2 tbsp. sauce per serving.)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Combine peppercorns, fennel seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in small zip-close plastic bag; press out air and seal bag. With meat mallet or rolling pin, pound until crushed. Spread spice mixture on sheet of wax paper. Roll tenderloin in spice mixture until coated, pressing so it adheres.
3. Heat oil in small heavy flameproof roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes.
4. Transfer pan to oven and roast until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of beef registers 145 F, about 30 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and let stand 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, to make sauce, spray roasting pan with nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Whisk in broth, mustard, and remaining 1/ 4 teaspoon salt; bring to boil. Cook, stirring, until sauce bubbles and thickens, about 4 minutes longer. Remove pan from heat; swirl in butter until melted. Cut beef against grain into 12 slices and serve with sauce.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This is what I like to call elegant entertaining during the winter solstice. Who doesn't love beef with red wine? If you don't have beef tenderloin on hand, use sirloin steak and broil or grill the steak instead. If you have a food processor or a spice grinder, put the spice mixture into the machine and grind it so it looks like a spice rub. I highly recommend mixing minced garlic with the spice mixture for a more aromatic flavor. The red wine sauce add a touch of zing to the beef. It goes great with potatoes and vegetables too.

Grilled Hanger Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp. low-sodium beef broth or water
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped shallot
• 1 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
• kosher salt
• 1 lb. beef hanger steak
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings

1. For chimichurri sauce, in a small bowl combine parsley, red wine vinegar, olive oil, broth, shallot, oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and crushed red pepper. Season to taste with kosher salt. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. ( or chill in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours; let stand at room temperature before using.)
2. Trim fat from steak. Score both sides of steak in a diamond patter by making shallow diagonal cuts at 1-inch intervals. Season meat with kosher salt and black pepper. For a charcoal grill, place steak on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 12-14 minutes or until medium doneness (140 F). For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place steak on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above. Serve steak with chimichurri sauce.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Cookbook. This makes a great dinner any night of the week and will bring people to the dinner table. Chimichurri sauce is a traditional sauce from Argentina and is usually packed with fresh herbs and seasonings. You can use any kind or protein such as skirt steak, sirloin steak, pork tenderloin, chicken, turkey, and even some fish. If you're thinking about going out to the local steakhouse, DON'T! Make this for dinner and it will taste just as good and cost just as less.

Beef Fondue

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. beef tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 recipe South Beach Teriyaki Sauce
• 1 recipe South Beach Tomato Sauce
• 1 recipe South Beach Barbecue Sauce
• 1 recipe South Beach Cocktail sauce
• 1 recipe South Beach Ketchup
• canola oil or beef or chicken broth

Makes 4 Servings

 

Evenly divide the beef among 4 individual dishes. Place the sauces in individual bowls. Heat the oil or broth in a fondue pot to about 375 F. Using skewers, dip the beef tenderloin cubes in to the hot oil or broth to cook it. Then dip the beef into one of the sauces.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. This is a great dish to serve when you're having company over. I tried this dish this past weekend but it didn't work out as I had hoped because the fondue pot wasn't working properly. This dish will work if you have a fondue pot that works. If not, you can always sauté or grill the meat and then serve them alongside the dipping sauces. 

Pepper-Spiked Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 lbs. lean round steak, top or bottom, trimmed of all visible fat and cubed
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 onions, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) stewed tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 potato, scrubbed and cubed
• 4 carrots, sliced

Makes 8 Servings

1.  In a large zip-top plastic bag, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon of the chili powder and the salt. Add the beef, seal the bag, and toss to coat well.
2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes, or until browned. Add the onions, garlic, and oregano. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
3. Add the broth, tomatoes (with juice). red pepper flakes, and the remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, or until the beef is almost tender.
4. Add potato and carrots. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. With this crazy weather we've been having this month, it was cold and I was craving a meat and potatoes comfort food. This beef stew was totally delicious. What makes this beef stew stand out are the flavors of red pepper flakes, chili powder and oregano that give it heat. The canned stewed tomatoes also give this stew the absolute comfort it deserves. The vegetables add heart to the stew as well. I really loved this stew. I do recommend adding a little red wine to the stew if you want to add a little sophistication to the stew but not to much because it will turn into beef burgundy. 

Chipotle Chili Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 lb. extra-lean ground beef
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 canned chipotle in adobo, plus 1 tsp sauce from can
• 3/4 cup low-sodium beef broth
• 4 reduced-fat beef hot dogs
• 4 whole wheat or whole-grain hot dog buns, lightly toasted (optional)

Makes 4 Servings

1. In a mediumsaucepan, heat oil over meduim heat. Add onions and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4-5 minutes. Add beef, increase heat to high, and cook, breaking up meat with a spoon and stirring until all pink is gone, 2-3 minutes more. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in tomato paste, chile, and adobo sauce. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook unti lmeat is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
2. While chili is cooking, lightly coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high. Grill hot dogs, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and heated through, 5-7 minutes. Serve hot dogs on buns, if using, topped with chili.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts with bun & 5 pts without bun

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook. Who doesn't love a hot dog once in a while? Hot dogs get a bad name because of what kind of ingredients are in them and sometimes they don't taste good at all. However, when hot dogs are cooked right and are topped with a flavorful topping, they can be delicious. I wasn't terribly hungry and I had a craving fora hot dog. The weather was really nice to day and I wanted to cook something filling and delicious. This chili dogs totally hit the spot. Chili dogs have a reputation of giving you heatburn or some other weird feeling in your stomach; these won't. They are very sophisticated and leave you satisfied. if you don't have any beef broth, don't worry. I used dry red wine in place of the beef broth and it gave the chili a more sophisticated taste. I highly recommend serving these chili dogs at your next gathering because they are so delicious and people will be asking for seconds. 

Braised Mini Meatballs

 Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. extra-lean ground beef
• 2 large eggs
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 cup unsalted tomato paste
• 2 cups lower-sodium beef broth
• 2 tsp granular sugar substitute

Makes 12 (3-piece) Servings

1. Combine beef, eggs, onion, parsley, basil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well with wet hands or a wooden spoon. Form into 36 (1 1/4-inch) meatballs.
2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Carefully add meatballs to the skillet (this can be done in batches, if necessary) and cook until browned on all sides, 5-7 minutes per batch. Pour off any excess fat from the skillet. Return all meatballs to the skillet and reduce heat to low.
3. Whisk together wine and tomato paste in a small bowl; por over meatballs. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until tomato mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes. Add broth and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in sugar substitute. Sprinkle with additional parsley just before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts per serving

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. I have been dying to make this recipe for a long time and it was worth the wait. Normally, meatballs are made with breadcrumbs. This was the first time I made meatballs and they were delicious. The key to the flavorful meatballs is the tomato paste and red wine because they leave a nice aftertaste in your mouth. I added a clove or 2 of minced garlic to the meatballs and they added flavor to these little treats. These meatballs can be served at a dinner party with 3 on a plate on top of a small serving of fettucini. These meatballs can even be served on bread and made into a fancy meatball sub. 

French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 Spanish onions, slivered
• 1 small leek, cleaned and sliced
• 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup water
• 2 sliced semolina bread, toasted
• 4 tsp grated Parmesean Cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat Swiss Cheese

Makes 2 Servings

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Saute the onions and leek until the onions are golden, about 15 minutes. Add the stock, pepper and water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
2. Preheat the broiler. Set 2 flameproof bowls on a baking sheet. Ladle the soup into the bowls; top with the bread. Sprinkle with the Parmesean, then with the Swiss cheese. Broil until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. Soup is the best comfort food when the weather is cold. French onion soup is so deliciously comforting and a classic French bistro dish. Even though the recipe calls for 2 Spanich onions, you only need 1 Spanish onion because you'll be pretty full with the bread, cheese, onion and leek.

New Beef Burgundy

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs. round steak, top or bottom, cubed
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lb. pearl onions
• 1 lb. mushrooms, quartered
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can tomatoes, pureed
• 1 cup carrots finely chopped
• 3 cups burgundy wine
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp. each of chopped rosemary. thyme, oregano
• 1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped

Makes 8 Servings

1. In a zip-top plastic bag, combine the flour, salt and pepper. add the beef, seal the bag and toss to coat well.
2. Heat 1 tbsp. of the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Working in batches to prevent overcrowding in the pan, add the beef and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until browned. Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining beef.
3. Add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil to the pan. Add the onions, mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, and garlic and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
4. Add the wine, broth, tomato paste, cocoa powder, bay leaves, herbs, and beef. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Sprinkle with the parsley.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. It was a cold winter's day and I wanted something warm, tasty and special and this dish looked so good. This is a version of the classic French dish 'boeuf bourguignonne.' Beef, burgundy, onions and mushrooms are the hall marks of this classic dish. You can use any kid of beef for this dish and it will taste delicious. I also never though I would love mushrooms but I did. This dish takes time to cook but it's well worth the wait and the aromas of olive oil, garlic, onions, beef  and burgundy will have your kitchen smelling like Paris.

Peppered Steak with Brandy-Mustard Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns, crushed or 2 tsp cracked black peppers from a jar
• 4 (1/4-lb.) filet mignons trimmed
• 2 large zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 4 shallots minced
• 3 tbsp brandy
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1 tbsp coarse-grained Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp salt

Makes 4 Servings

1. Put the peppercorns on a plate; lightly press both sides of the steak into the peppercorns to coat evenly.
2. Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set ove medium-high heat. Add the steaks and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the sideof a steak registers 145 F for medium, about 5 minutes on each side. Trnsfer to a platter and keep warm.
3. Add the zucchini and shallots to the skillet; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the brandy and cook about 20 seconds. (If the brandy ignites, cover the skillet with the lid and remove it from the heat until the flame is extinguished.) Stir in the broth, mustard and salt. Simmer until the sace is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Spoon the vegetables and sauce over the steaks.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 (1 steak and about 1 cup vegetables with sauce)

Note: This recipe appears in the WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. I was craving steak for dinner and I was inspired after watching an old episode of Tyler's Ultimate when Tyler Florence was cooking the ultimate french bistro. This was another delicious steak dinner. The brandy and the Djion mustard made the steak and vegetables taste so delicious. Zucchini is a very bland vegetable and can be added to almost any dish.

Easy Pepper Steak

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
• 2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tbs cornstarch
• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1 lb flank steak, trimmed and thinly sliced against the grain
• 4 assorted-color bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 6 scallions, cut into 2-inch lengths
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Makes 6 Servings

1. Stir together 1 1/4 cups of the broth, the soy sauce and the cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth; set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a nonstick wok or a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the steak and stir-fry until browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Add the bell peppers to the wok and stir-fry until crispy-tender about 3 minutes. Add the scallions and garlic; stir-fry about 1 minute. Add the remaining 1/2 cup broth; cook, covered, about 3 minutes. Return the beef to the wok. Stir the cornstarch mixture and add to the wok; stir-fry until the sauce thickens and bubbles, about 1 minute longer.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 PTS

Note: This recipe appears in the WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. I love steak and I love bell peppers. The smell of beef broth and soy sauce has a nice aroma as well. This is a very easy an tasty recipe to make and eat. You don't necessarily have to use flak steak; you can use sirloin or any other kind of steak for this dish. You can even serve rice with this dish if you desire.

Steak with Two Peppers

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp drained brine-packed green peppercorns
• 1 tsp cracked black peppercorns
• 1 (1 lb.) boneless top loin steak, trimmed of all visible fat and pounded slightly
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 tsp unsalted butter
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1/3 cup low-sodium beef broth

Make 4 Servings

1. 
   
   Using your fingers, press 2 tsp of the green peppercorns into the steak. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil; let it heat. Saute the steak, turn once and sprinkling the salt on the cooked side, 1-2 minutes on each side. Transfer the steak to a plate.
2. 
   
   In the skillet, melt 1 tsp of the butter. Saute the shallot until wilted, about 1 minute. Add the wine; cook, stirring, until evaporates, about 2 minutes.
3. 
   
   Dissolve the tomato paste in the beef broth and stir into the skillet with the remaining teaspoon of green peppercorns Cook until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 2-3 minutes longer; stir in the remaining teaspoon of butter.
4. 
   
   Return the steak and any accumulated juices to the sauce; reheat about 45 seconds. Remove and cut steak into 12 slices. Serve with the sauce.

WW POINTS PER SERVING: 5 (3 Slices steak with 1/4 sauce)

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. You can use 1 lb. (4 oz. each) of sirloin steak and the recipe is just as delicious. You can even broil the steaks while making the shallot sauce in the skillet. Any good-quality dry red wine work well in this recipe. When a recipe calls for wine, it's best to steer clear of cooking wines, which often contain salt and are generally inferior. Instead, use a moderately priced table wine, one that your consider suitable for drinking.

Steak so Easy and simple: Onion-Smothered Sirloin Steak

Ingredients:

• 3 tsp olive oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
• 2 (1/2-lb) boneless sirloin steaks, trimmed and cut crosswise in half

Makes 4 servings

1. Heat 2 tsp of the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, thyme and 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/8 tsp of pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and golden, about 8 minutes. Add the broth and cook until almost evaporated, about 4 minutes. Transfer ot a medium bowl and set aside.
   
   
2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining tsp of olive oil in another large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the steaks with the remaining 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Add to the skillet and cook until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Add the onion mixture and cook, stirring to scrape up and browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until the steaks are cooked to medium doneness, about 2 minutes longer.
   
   

Note: This recipe appears courtesy of WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. It's one of my favorites and it's really easy to make. I always use my CuisinArt Griddler to save time when I cook steak. I also use the Vidalia Chop Wizard to slice and dice my onions. You can buy the Chop Wizard at Target for about $20. and it's a lifesaver as well.

Filet Mignon with Sun-Dried Tomato Garlic Sauce

Ingredients:

• 4 beef tenderloin steaks (4 0z.) 1 inch thick
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup A.1 Steak Sauce

Makes 4 Servings

1. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add steaks; cook 10 -13 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Remove steaks from skillet; cover to keep warm.
2. Add tomatoes, oil and garlic to skillet; cook 1 minute. Stir in beef broth. Increase heat to medium-high; cook and stir 5 minutes or until liquid is slightly reduced. Remove from heat. Stir in steak sauce. Serve over steaks.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

Note: This recipe appears courtesy of http://www.kraftfoods.com/. I was desperate for a healthy recipes for Christmas dinner and this looked so good. It's one of my favorites and one of the easiest. You can use any kind of steak with this as well as chicken, pork, turkey or even duck in this dish and it will still be yummy. Also, if you don't have any beef broth, use red wine in place of the broth or even a mixture of both. I highly recommend serving a side of potatoes and vegetables with this dish and this dinner will be better than what you'd order at a steakhouse.