BEEF TENDERLOIN

Beef tenderloin is one of the top meals that I am always making for clients! When cooked perfectly, beef tenderloin just melts in your mouth & when properly seasoned and serve with some horseradish or dijon mustard, this piece of meat is perfect for any event!

I tried a bit of a new cooking marinade this past weekend for a client, and it was a complete hit! I will forever now use these seasonings when cooking beef tenderloin. I am going to share a great cooking technique for beef tenderloin, so that at your next event whether it be a family birthday meal, a buffet or a special treat for friends, you are ready! One tip, rest your meat. Resting the meat is so important as it allows all of the flavour and juice to absorb back into the meat ensuring that your meat stays flavourful and juicy!

BEEF TENDERLOIN 
Ingredients:
1 beef tenderloin (2-3kg in weight)
1/4 cup dijon mustard
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 minced garlic cloves
salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Pat dry the beef tenderloin and generously seasons with salt and pepper.
2. In a bowl mix together the mustard, balsamic and garlic until thoroughly combined. Rub all over the beef tenderloin.
3. Pre heat the oven to 500 degrees!! (make sure your oven is clean as this is a hot temp and will smoke any old food that is on the bottom of the oven)
4. Cook your beef tenderloin for 25-30 minutes. Do not open the oven!
5. When you remove the meat, cover in aluminum foil for at least 20 minutes.

BE MY VALENTINE

Love in the air and cupid around the corner can only mean one thing, Valentines day!

I love Valentines - not  for the mushy gushy, but for the fun that you can having in cooking or baking for you family, friends and your main squeeze! When we were younger, Valentines was a big day in our house. We would wake up to a table that was covered in a pink or red tablecloth, smothered in chocolate kisses, cinnamon hearts & pink tulips. My mom would always have our favourite breakfast treats waiting (mine was always an almond croissant from Summerhill) as well as a cute Valentine's card & treat. 

For such a simple day my mom would go all out, and it is for that reason that I love doing the same on Valentines. Here are three fun things you can make tomorrow (or today) as a treat for those you love!!

1. Valentine's night appetizer, heart tomatoes & boccinicini: these would make for a great appetizer. Cut the cherry tomatoes on an angle in half and arrange on the skewer in the shape of a heart. Not pictured here but add a boccincini ball on and you have a great pre-dinner nibble!

2. Treats for all: these chocolate dipped pretzles are dead simple to make and would be a great gift to girlfriends, coworkers or kids friends at school. Since they are so simple, this is a great activity for kids as well. Melt some white chocolate in a bowl, have a few other bowls filled with your favourite red & pink sprinkles. Dip half of the pretzel into the chocolate and then straight into the sprinkles. Dust off and let harden. Put a handful into a see through bag, tie with a festive ribbon and you have a great Valentine's day treat!

3. Special Breakfast: jazz up those boring pancakes by putting in a little effort to ensure that they are heart shaped! For your kids - tint them with some red food dye! Serve with good quality Ontario maple syrup and a few strawberries or raspberries for that pop of red!