Preparation: Fairly easy. Cost: Fairly expensive. Preparation time: 15 minutes.

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED FOR 4 SERVINGS:

4 beef tenderloin or sirloin steaks
4 tsp. green peppercorns
1 sm. onion
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. whipping cream
3 tbsp. beef consomme
3 tbsp. cognac or brandy

1. Crush green peppercorns in a mortar with a pestle. Chop onion. Combine.

2. Press peppercorn mixture into meat on both sides.

3. In a skillet, heat butter until lightly brown. Add steaks.

4. Brown well on 1 side. Turn steaks over. Brown on other side. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

5. Remove steaks to a serving dish. Cover. Keep warm.

6. Add cream to skillet. Scrape up brownings. Cook until reduced. Add beef consomme.

7. Strain liquid. Set aside. Rinse skillet.

8. Heat skillet again. Add steaks. Pour cognac over. Ignite.

9. Add cream mixture. Let cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Serve. Good served with: A potato casserole, string beans or sweet peas and a glass of red wine, if desired.

All nutritional information is per single serving: 346 calories, 25 g. protein, 5 g. carbohydrates, 730 mg. sodium, 25 g. fat, and 134 mg. cholesterol.

TIPS: For best flavor, do not add cognac and ignite until steaks are ready to be served.