The snow has stopped and the driveway is shoveled. (The front walk is going to stay snow-covered until it melts.  The Lord giveth, the Lord can taketh away.)  If I didn’t have to get the car out, eventually, I would leave the driveway, as well.

All that shoveling worked up an appetite.  Almost as much as when I’m sitting on my duff in front of the computer.

So after a big bowl of oatmeal this morning, and pizza for lunch, a filet with bearnaise was just the ticket for dinner.  And gorgonzola mashed potatoes.  And arugula with onions and bacon.

I pan-seared the steaks and then put them into a 425° oven for about 6 minutes.  The potatoes were merely regular mashed spuds with some gorgonzola crumbled in.

For the arugula, I diced up a slice of bacon and cooked it with a bit of diced onion.  When it was cooked pretty well, I added the arugula and salt and pepper.  Nothing else.  Very simple and very flavorful.

I have made blender hollandaise for years – it’s really quite easy- so I adapted it for a bearnaise.  Not exactly the classic recipe, but it works.

Blender Bearnaise

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tsp heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup hot melted butter
  • 2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp tarragon
  • pinch chervil
  • 1 tsp minced shallot
  • pinch salt and pepper

Add egg yolks, heavy cream, shallots, and spices to blender.  Mix really well.  With blender running, add half the hot butter.  Add the vinegar, and then finish adding the remaining butter.  Blend until smooth.

That’s it.  And simple enough for a weeknight meal.

Later tonight we will have dessert – more cake from last night.

This has been a really fun snow-day.