Filet Mignon with Horseradish Dijon Sauce and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Aphrodisiacs – food and beverages thought to inspire desire – are Valentine’s Day favorites. Among the best-known temptations: oysters, Champagne, caviar, and chocolate. This year, try something new by injecting romance into the menu with…yes, mustard. Celebrated for its aphrodisiac properties by many cultures, mustard’s bite will warm the body and boost the romantic temperature with every taste. From appetizer straight through to dessert, Dijon mustard pairs perfectly with other ‘love foods’ such as crunchy pine nuts, iron-rich beef filet, creamy mashed potatoes and even intense dark chocolate.  I’m sharing my suggestion for a sexy and delicious dinner; a tender Filet Mignon with Silky Horseradish Dijon Sauce that is served with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and steamed carrots.

Haven’t you seen enough candy and chocolate cookies, pies and cakes? I know I have. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love chocolate. I love cookies, pies and cakes too. But I’m sort of craving something to eat BEFORE those goodies and thought I would spend some time preparing a dish more suited for a Valentine’s dinner or any special dinner for that matter. Something easy enough to make at home and yet elegant enough to make it a special occasion. And not so heavy you won’t have room for one of those decadent treats after the main course either. I’ll be sharing a decadent treat this week too but like my mom always said, ‘You have to finish your dinner first, Barbara.’

If you don’t know already then I guess it’s time for me to share again. I LOVE mustard. I like hot dogs and burgers with any number of mustards  and I’m always the one saying ‘hold the ketchup please.’ I even like it enough that I’ve made my own. When I was staying with friends while waiting for my new home to be completed, they were sort of in shock at my assortment. Regular, whole grain, champagne, honey mustard, port wine mustard, mustard with horseradish and more. So this recipe which includes mustard in both the mashed potatoes and the steak sauce was perfect. Not overpowering at all but a great spicy component that plays up the other flavors perfectly. I especially love Maille mustards and have worked with this company before; it’s a no brainer. It is simply the best. I could…wait, HAVE, eaten their whole grain mustard from a spoon. A real favorite of mine is their Dijonnaise; a prepared mix that is like having mayonnaise and a whole grain mustard mixed together with the added benefit of a squeeze bottle. They knew me when they did that!

This dish contains two different mustards; the Cheddar Mashed Potatoes has Maille Whole Grain Mustard mixed in with the cheese, butter and potatoes and the steak has a sauce made of Maille Horseradish mustard, yogurt, Worcestershire, paprika and red pepper. You could serve them separately but I liked them stacked and the combined flavors are fantastic. Make this for someone you love. If you haven’t won them over til now; I can almost guarantee this effort will seal the deal!
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I was provided with samples of several Maille mustards but all commentary is my own.