Pepper Steak and Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms

Ingredients

Mushroom Rice Pilaf:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 10 white mushrooms, chopped
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 1 package rice pilaf mix (recommended: Near East brand), 6.09 ounces
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Pepper Steak:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan
• 2 pounds tenderloin tips or sirloin, cut into chunks
• Coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 green bell peppers, seeded, 2 inch dice
• 1/2 white onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/4 cup dry sherry – eyeball it
• 1 1/2 cups beef consomme
• 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper

Directions

In a medium pot over medium to medium high heat add a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of butter. When butter melts, add chopped mushrooms and saute 3 to 5 minutes. Add water and cover the pot. Add rice and pilaf packet to water. Stir to combine, reduce heat and cook 18 minutes. Add parsley, fluff with fork.

Preheat a large skillet over high heat. Add vegetable oil to really hot pan. Add meat and sear on all sides, 5 minutes. Season with salt and remove to a plate. Cover meat loosely with foil to hold heat. Reduce heat on pan to medium. Add butter to pan. Add peppers and a little onion. Saute peppers and onions 5 minutes. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook 1 minute longer. Whisk in sherry and start to pick up pan drippings. Whisk in consomme and continue whisking. Add tomato and black pepper. Slide meat back into the pan and coat with sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes.

Spoon Pepper Steak over Mushroom Rice Pilaf and serve.