Tasty Tuesday! : Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon, Sauteed Garlic & Asparagus on top of a Puddle of Maple Butter Cayenne Sweet Potato Puree topped with a Stilton Blue Cheese Cream & Chives

Who doesn't enjoy a succulent piece of Filet Mignon?! Gourmet Food Crack!

It's not everyday that I can eat like this but I wanted to do something nice for my mom and my buddy. I've recently made it a sport to find good deals in the grocery store and this is one of those victories that I am proud of. Obviously the most expensive part of this meal was the filet of beef and the Stilton Blue Cheese. However, between two groceries stores and some determination I found the necessary ingredients for under $20! The filets were 50% off at Kroger and the Stilon was 20% off at Harris Teeter, sweet potatoes are a superfood that are constantly inexpensive and the asparagus was also on sale, victory! This meal is amazingly balanced, between the saltiness of the cheese, bacon and seasonings juxtaposed to the sweetness of the mable butter sweet potatoes and you have that small sublte punch of heat from the cayenne. It is very simple and fast to construct, max time on this was 20 minutes. It hit every surface area of our tastebuds in a fabulous symphony of flavor, you definitely need to try this one out!!!!!

CHEERS!





Ingredients
3 - 6oz. Filet Mignon
3 Thin Slices of Bacon
2 oz. Stilton Blue Cheese
3/4 lb. of Asparagus
3 Cloves of Garlic
4 tbsp. Half & Half
3 Chives
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
2 tbsp. maple sysrup
5 tbsp. unsalted butter
3 large Sweet Potatoes
5 tsbp. extra virgin olive oil
Kosher Salt
Pepper

Maple Butter Cayenne Sweet Potatoes
1. Peel the sweet potatoes.
2. Cut into 2 inch or smaller cubes.
3. Place in a pot and cover with water.
4. Boil for 15 minutes.
5. Drain the sweet potatoes and place in a blender or food processor with maple syrup, butter, half & half, pinch of kosher salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
6. Process until completely smoothe and forms into a puree.
7. Place back into the hot pot on the stove, burner off, and they will stay warm while everything is cooked.
8. This would be a good time to preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Filet Mignon
1. Wrap each filet with bacon.
2. Pat completely dry to attain a great dark brown sear.
3. Liberally season both sides of the filet with kosher salt and pepper.
4. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium high to high temperature.
5. Add 3 tbsp. olive oil and 3 tbsp of butter, once butter is melted place filets in the screaming hot pan.
6. Sear on both sides for 1.5 minutes until dark brown.
7. Roll the bacon sides of the filets in the skillet for a total of a minute just to start the cooking process of the bacon.
8. Place in the 425 degree oven for 5 minutes to achieve a medium rare readiness.

Garlic Sauteed Asparagus
1. Heat a skillet with 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil.
2. Place the 3 cloves of garlic in the oil to scent the olive oil.
3. Cut the woody ends of the asparagus off and sautee in the scented olive oil for 7 minutes, flipping occassionally.

Stilton Blue Cheese Sauce
1. Crumble the cheese in a small pot over low heat.
2. Add the 2 tbsp. of half & half and simmer on low for about 5 minutes.

Assembly
This is very simple and you could probably guess it by just looking at the picture above. Make a puddle of the sweet potato puree on the plate. Place asparagus in a linear fashion on top of of the puree. Center the filet of beef on top of the bed of asparagus. Dollop the Stilton blue cheese sauce on top of the filet and garnish with chives.