Beef tenderloin is an expensive cut, but instead of treating your friends to a fancy restaurant, make dinner at home. It will cost less than dining at a high-end steak joint.

Recipe courtesy of Lobel’s Meat Bible (Raincoast Books).

This recipe is comprised of five steps. The first four steps can each be made a day or two ahead. Don't feel daunted by the long list of ingredients and the many steps. The variety of chilies can be found at Mexican grocery stores as well as at Whole Foods stores. If worse comes to worst, don't sweat it. Use whatever chilies you can lay your hands on. Remember, by doing exactly that, the Mexicans created a handful of delicious mole variations.

Thanks to Chef David Wolfman for providing this tasty recipe. You have to order moose meat about two weeks in advance from your butcher. If you're not able to find it, bison or beef make great substitutes.

Growing up, I never experienced lamb. As an adult, I was reluctant to taste it. At first, I piled on the mint jelly. But eventually the seductive succulence of a well-cooked cut of lamb got to me. Now I’m a believer.

Tins of plum tomatoes and sliced mushrooms are the basics for this delicious dish. Good-quality Parmigiana Reggiano lasts a long time — keep some in your fridge for garnishing this and other dishes. You might also want to warm a loaf of garlic bread from the freezer to serve alongside the pasta.