after one of the strangest weeks of my life, i needed to do something to calm us down and somewhat bring us back to a sense of normality. ahhh, the comforts of food (and a favorite past time of mine as you'll see below!). with the sky still a little smoky and the air quality not quite back to healthy, i was left with having to pan fry $18 filet's. i really hate to do this as beef really should just be grilled, but i had to. instead of making a sauce for the filet's like i did last time, i made up a roasted garlic gorgonzola cheese spread. i did add a little red wine and demi glace reduction sauce at the end, but i really was pulling for the main additional flavor to come from the cheese. i've had something similar in restaurants and have always wanted to try it at home. i really do think this is my favorite way to have a filet mignon. course i've yet to duplicate an old gold fork favorite, the parmesan peppercorn filet. maybe that will be the next steak i cook!
i blanched some string beans and then seared them just a couple seconds in some butter and then added some roasted russet potatoes. our wine was a 2005 california merlot that was really quite tasty.
after dinner, marcela, christina, michael, and i carved pumpkins. i think this was the first time i carved a pumpkin since my woodbury days. i really do like it though. we really had a good time last night and it was needed after the tragedy of last weekends fires, which actually still burn as i write. all the families who are without a home or can't go back yet or have lost a friend or family member, you are in our prayers.
