Pepper Steak With Mushrooms

• 2 tablespoons peppercorns, coarsely crushed
• 12 teaspoon hot pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 (6 -8 ounce) boneless sirloin or 4 (6 -8 ounce) filet mignon steaks, well trimmed
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons cognac or 2 tablespoons Bourbon or 2 tablespoons scotch or 2 tablespoons beef stock
• 12 cup whipping cream
• salt, to taste

1. Combine peppercorns & hot pepper flakes and press onto both sides of steaks.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil with butter in a heavy frying pan (make sure that it will be large enough to accomodate the steaks in one layer).
3. Add mushrooms to frying pan and cook over medium heat, stirring and turning them occasionally until they are wilted (approx 5 minutes).
4. Increase the heat to med-high and continue cooking until the liquid from mushrooms have evaporated and they are lightly browned.
5. With slotted spoon, remove them from the pan & reserve.
6. Add remaining oil to frying pan.
7. When hot, add the steaks.
8. Fry until brown, about 2 min on each side.
9. Continue cooking until desired degree of doneness is reached.
10. Remove steaks from pan & keep hot.
11. Pour off all fat from pan.
12. Add alcohol or stock and bring to boil, stirring and scraping browned bits from bottom of pan.
13. Add cream & bring back to a boil.
14. Boil 1 minute.
15. Stir in mushrooms & reheat them.
16. Check seasoning & then pour sauce over steaks to serve.

peppercorns, hot pepper, boneless sirloin, vegetable oil, butter, mushrooms, cognac, whipping cream, salt

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/pepper-steak-with-mushrooms-185163 (may not work)