Happy New Year, everyone!!!

And to welcome 2010, it only seems appropriate to cook some fantabulous steaks, right?

If you’re going to do it, why not just go for it and spring for the most tender cut — the amazing filet mignon?

Here, Derrick Riches gives us his incredible recipe for herb-crusted filets. Enjoy!

Herb-Crusted Filet Mignon

What can be better than filet mignon? It’s delicious and tender. This recipe calls for dried herbs though you can substitute with fresh herbs instead. If you are going to do so, double the amount that the recipe requires.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

4 filet mignon, about 1 1/2 inches thick

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon marjoram

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation:

Heat olive oil and garlic in a covered microwave safe bowl for 50-60 seconds. Remove and allow to cool. Add herbs and stir. Place filet mignon into a shallow glass dish. Pour herb mixture over and turn steaks to coat. Cover and let marinate for 1-4 hours in refrigerator. Preheat grill for high heat. Remove steaks, remove excess oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook for 5-6 minutes per side. Remove from heat and serve.

Recipe courtesy of About.com.

Photo courtesy of KansasCitySteaks.com.

It’s New Year’s Eve and we are about to embark upon a new decade. Can you believe that?

So today I’d like to share with you my Top 10 Favorite Blog Posts of 2009. It’s been a year of great food and great adventures for me and my family. Thank you for coming along with us.

And . . . 2010 is full of promise. If I had a crystal ball, I’d see lots and lots of steak in my future. And yours.

But that’s just a guess.

Enjoy — and Happy New Year!!!!

TOP 10 FAVORITE STEAKY BLOG POSTS OF 2009

1.  Jan. 3 — The Tenderest Tenderloin

2.  Jan. 23 — Here We Go Kabob-ing

3.  Feb. 19 — Three’s Company

4.  Feb. 27 — Enchilada Steak Pie Recipe

5.  Apr. 8 — Beef Recipe:  Prime Rib Roast and Yorkshire Pudding

6.  Jun. 26 — Pizza. Beef. Scrumptious.

7.  Jul. 22 — Beefy Sliders

8.  Sept. 25 — Dreamy Meatloaf

9.  Oct. 6 — Steak and Grilled Broccoli

10.  Dec. 10 — O Steaky Night

‘Twas the night before Christmas . . . and we were starving.

Can you guess — in a house full of carnivores — what we ate?

Wait for it.

Yes, my friends, steak.

Like many other families across this great land, we decided to dine on a Christmas Eve meal of strip steaks, baked potatoes, and all the wine related people can indulge in without looking like we have some problems we need to talk about.

We prefer to keep it light around the holidays. No talk of the sagging economy, world destruction or personal issues. Just Santa, anything positive and the kids in our lives.

This Christmas we found ourselves with a lot to be thankful for — despite what the news shows have been telling us. And the steak? Well, the steak set the tone for a Christmas Eve full of corny holiday classics, thick anticipation and pure excitement.

We decided to try a new seasoning this time. It was Christmas Eve, so we thought, What the heck, let’s go for it.

This steak seasoning, made by SuckleBusters, was just the right amount of spicy hot and flavorful.

We put it on the steaks before my hubby braved the Blizzard of ’09 and ventured outside to grill the steaks IN THE SNOW.

As he said, “You gotta want it.”

And we did.

That is real, actual, honest-to-goodness snow coming down behind the grill there.

Sure, we could have pan fried them inside or put them on the George Foreman in the comfort of our warm kitchen. But what would be the fun in that?

The kids wrote their names in the snow on the patio table while Dad flipped the steaks sans gloves. It was all part of his “get tough” theme for the evening. Very Christmasy.

But, I gotta tell you, this Christmas Eve was one to remember for us. Family with only a minimum of dysfunctional issues, great steaks from my favorite place, a new seasoning and the Christmas night countdown. What could be better than that?

I hope your holidays were just as special!