Sunnys Easy Beef Tenderloin With Holiday Pesto Recipes

BEEF TENDERLOIN STUFFED WITH HERB PESTO

Steps:

• Position the meat on a cutting board so it is perpendicular to the board. With a sharp knife, make a 1-inch-deep incision along the length of the roast. Then use a sawing motion as you continue to cut, moving the knife down and to the left; with your fingers, begin to pry open the roast. Continue cutting, flattening the meat as you go to make a flat rectangular piece about 9 by 12 inches. (Don't worry if it looks a bit ragged.) Lightly pound the meat with a mallet to make it evenly flat. Season meat on both sides with salt and pepper. Lay the meat on a baking sheet cut side up and refrigerate while you prepare the pesto.
• Make the pesto: Put parsley, basil, garlic and olives in a food processor or blender. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Pulse to roughly chop, then add oil and process to a coarse purée. Add cheese, lemon zest and crushed red pepper and pulse briefly to combine.
• Spread pesto evenly over the cut surface of the beef, leaving a 1-inch border at all edges. Roll up the meat like a jellyroll, with the seam on the bottom. Tie roll securely with butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals along its length. Drizzle the surface of the roll with oil and rub with your hands to distribute. Leave meat at room temperature to season for at least 30 minutes. (Alternatively, wrap and refrigerate the roast for several hours or overnight. Return to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Build a fire in a charcoal grill, leaving one side of the grill free of coals. Sear the roast on all sides directly over medium-hot coals. Move the roast off the coals and cook over indirect heat, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer registers 125 degrees for medium-rare meat, about 30 minutes. (To prevent overcooking, begin checking after 20 minutes.) Let rest for at least 15 minutes before removing twine and carving into 1/2-inch slices. For easier slicing, let roast cool to room temperature.

SUNNY'S EASY BEEFY STEW

Steps:

• In a large skillet on high heat, add the butter and ground chuck. Season with a pinch of salt and, using a wooden spoon or spatula, break it up into small chunks, not bits. Brown the meat on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes, then remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon to a plate and reserve.
• Toss the top round cubes in a medium bowl with the flour to coat. Add the cubes to the hot skillet in batches and sear on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to the plate with the ground beef and reserve.
• Use twine to tie the thyme, sage and oregano together. Turn the slow cooker to high and add the seared beef, tied herbs, onions, beef stock, red chili flakes, peppercorns, garlic and 1 cup of the beer. Season with another pinch of salt and cover. When the liquid begins to boil, after about 30 minutes, turn the slow cooker to low and cook until the onions are tender, about 4 hours.
• At the 4-hour mark, add the potatoes, carrots and remaining 1/2 cup beer. Cover and cook until the potatoes and carrots are tender, about 2 hours. Skim any fat off the top (see Cook's Note), then spoon the stew atop your choice of serving options. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a large ovensafe pot or Dutch oven, sear the ground chuck and beef cubes in the butter using the same method as above. Use twine to tie the thyme, sage and oregano together. Add all the meat back to the pot along with the tied herbs, onions, beef stock, red chili flakes, peppercorns, garlic and 1 cup of the beer. Season with a pinch of salt, cover and place in the oven to cook until the onions are tender, about 6 hours.
• At the 6-hour mark, add the potatoes, carrots and remaining 1/2 cup beer. Cover and cook until the potatoes and carrots are tender, about 2 hours. Skim any fat off the top (see Cook's Note), then spoon the stew atop your choice of serving options. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, sear the ground chuck and beef cubes in the butter using the same method as above. Load the pot the same as above. Bring to a very low simmer over medium heat, cover and simmer until the onions are tender, about 6 hours.
• At the 6-hour mark, add the potatoes, carrots and remaining 1/2 cup beer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the potatoes and carrots are tender, about 2 hours. Skim any fat off the top (see Cook's Note), then spoon the stew atop your choice of serving options. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.