Buca di Beppo Filet Cacciatore

Source: Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky

12 ounces beef tenderloin or sirloin tip
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large red onion, chopped
1/2 pound white mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon capers
1 teaspoon oregano
1/3 cup sherry
2 cups prepared Marinara (recipe follows)

Cut meat into 4 serving pieces. Season pieces with salt and pepper.

In a large saute pan, heat olive oil on medium-high until it shimmers. Add meat; brown about 3 minutes on both sides and remove from the pan. Lower heat to medium, add onions and mushrooms and cook slowly for about 4 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add garlic, capers and oregano and cook 1 minute more.

Raise heat to medium-high and pour the sherry into the pan to loosen juices that stick to the pan during cooking. Bring sherry to a boil, add marinara sauce to the pan and simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes, or until sauce is thickened. Return beef to the pan and heat thoroughly.

Serves 2.

Serve over mashed potatoes (recipe for garlic mashed potatoes follows). Mound potatoes on platter, pour marinara over and then top with beef.

Marinara Sauce:
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 minced garlic clove
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Dash salt and pepper
1/4 to 1/3 cup beef broth, if available

Combine ingredients in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer gently, uncovered, 10 minutes.

Makes 2 cups.

Leftover tomato paste can be frozen. Place in ice cube tray in 1- or 2-tablespoon amounts. When frozen, pop out and freeze in plastic bag or container suitable for freezer.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes:
8 red-skinned potatoes, cut into quarters
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 teaspoonssalt
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup milk or potato cooking water

Boil potatoes, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in enough water to cover the potatoes. Drain, reserving water if you prefer. Remove garlic cloves and discard. Smash potatoes, butter and milk together with a large fork until fluffy. The dish should not be smooth and creamy - you want a thick, homey texture. Otherwise, the marinara sauce will merge with the potatoes, making a runny mess. Season to taste with remaining salt.

Makes about 3 cups.