Beef Tenderloins with French Onion Sauce

This is an easy dish, but incredible for a romantic dinner or company.

2 teaspoons butter or stick margarine, divided
2 cups thinly sliced onion
3 cups cremini or button mush-room caps, halved (about 1/2 pound)
2/3 cup water
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can beef consomme
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (1 inch thick)
1/2 cup dry red wine
4 (1-ounce) slices French bread (about 1 inch thick), toasted


Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in water and consomme, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Bring to a boil; cover and cook 10 minutes. Remove onion mixture from pan.

Combine thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Rub the thyme mixture over steaks. Melt 1 teaspoon butter in pan over medium-high heat. Add steaks; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove steaks from pan; keep warm.

Add wine to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in onion mixture; bring to a boil, and cook 1 minute. Return steaks to pan; simmer 1 minute.

Place one toast slice in each of 4 shallow serving bowls, and top each slice with steak. Spoon the onion mixture over each serving. Serve immediately.