Hosting Christmas dinner this year? Whether the entire family is coming over for the big day or you're hosting friends for a dinner party at any point during the season, choosing the menu can be tricky. So much factors into the decision from how much time you have to make the dinner, how many people you're hosting and, god forbid, all of the food preferences and dietary restrictions. Appetizers, sides and dessert are easy to make a variety of but the main dish, the star of the show, can be a difficult decision.

If you are dealing with vegans and vegetarians, this particular recipe isn't going to help you much. However, if you're feeding meat eaters, you must try this beef tenderloin. It's juicy, tender and bursting with flavor. Before marching to the store, there are a few things you should know about this particular cut of beef. 1) It's not cheap. It goes for about $20/lb. which can get pricey if you're feeding a large group. With that said, I'd recommend saving the tenderloin for an intimate dinner. 2) It's a super lean cut of meat. There's not a lot of fat so if there were ever a time to be meticulous about the temperature, it's now. Cooking the beef until it reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees is ideal to maintain that juiciness but you can push it to 140 degrees if necessary. 3) It's very popular during the holidays so make sure you put in an order rather than wait last-minute if there's a possibility at your butcher or grocery store that it will run out.

Beef Tenderloin really does shine on it's own. There is a ton of flavor, especially being a leaner cut of meat. The garlic and herbs give it a nice touch to stand out as well. Because of all this, serve it with simple sides. I like a nice, herby roasted veggie mix and fresh cut green bean. It would also serve well with any au gratin vegetable and maybe even a mac and cheese? More to come on how to plan a holiday dinner menu this week! See the recipe for this particular beef tenderloin below.

GARLIC & HERB CRUSTED BEEF TENDERLOIN
Ingredients:
2 lb. Beef Tenderloin
2 tbsp. Olive Oil
5-6 Garlic Cloves, chopped
1 tbsp. each of Rosemary, Thyme & Parsley, chopped
salt & pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Rub the tenderloin with olive oil all over, massaging it in. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the heels and garlic together in a small bowl. Coat the tenderloin with the garlic and herbs all over making sure to put a little extra at the top. Place in a baking dish or a roasting pan.

3. Bake for 35-50 minutes or until a thermometer comes out 135-140 degrees. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serve.