How To: Make a spectacular holiday beef Wellington dinner encrusted in puff pastry

This recipe from Holiday Kitchen shows you their impressive, celebratory dish that satisfies the most discriminating crowd. Beef Wellington will leave your party guests grinning and wide-eyed as you present and carve this spectacular meal at the table. This masterpiece of meat is worth the effort! But don't worry— there's no foie gras here.

1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 beef tenderloin (2 to 2 1/2 lbs)
ground black pepper (optional)
1 egg
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp butter
2 cups mushrooms, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1/2)
flour for rolling

1. Take out a package of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets and remove one from the box. Let it thaw on the counter for 40 minutes - or overnight in the fridge. Return the second to the freezer.

2. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

3. Place the beef tenderloin into a lightly greased roasting pan. Season it with black pepper, if desired. When the oven reaches temperature, roast the tenderloin for 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 130°F.

4. Cover the pan and refrigerate the meat for an hour to cool.

5. Reheat the oven to 425°F.

6. Make an egg wash by beating an egg with a tablespoon of water in a small bowl using a fork or whisk.

7. Heat one tablespoon of butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and onion and cook until the mushrooms are tender and all the liquid is evaporated, stirring often. Let the mushrooms cool.

8. Lightly flour your work surface. Unfold one pasty sheet and roll it into a rectangle about 4 inches longer and 6 inches wider than the beef. Brush the pastry sheet with the egg mixture.

* Get the full recipe instructions here.