Beef Wellington

INGREDIENTS:
4 1 1/2-inch-thick center-cut filets mignons (about 6 ounces each)
4 large mushrooms (about 1/4 pound total)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 large egg
2 puff pastry sheets (from a 17 1/4-ounce package frozen puff pastry), thawed
4 tablespoons Gorgonzola cheese (about 2 1/2 ounces)

DIRECTIONS:
1 - Preheat oven to 425°F.
2 - Pat filets mignons dry and season with salt and pepper. In a shallow roasting pan roast filets in middle of oven 12 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 110°F for rare, and cool (filets will be baked again after being wrapped in pastry).
3 - Chill filets, covered, until cold, about 1 hour.
4 - Thinly slice mushrooms and in a heavy skillet cook in butter with shallot, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste over moderate heat, stirring, until mushrooms are lightly browned. Transfer mushroom mixture to a bowl to cool completely.
5 - In a small bowl lightly beat egg to make an egg wash.
6 - On a lightly floured surface roll out puff pastry sheet into a 14 inch square. Trim edges to form a 13-inch square and cut square into four 6.5 inch squares.
7 - Put 1 tablespoon Gorgonzola in center of 1 square and top with one fourth mushroom mixture.
8 - Top mushroom mixture with a filet mignon, pressing it down gently, and wrap 2 opposite corners of puff pastry over filet, overlapping them. Seal seam with egg wash. Wrap remaining 2 corners of pastry over filet and seal in same manner. Seal any gaps with egg wash and press pastry around filet to enclose completely.
9 - Arrange beef Wellington, seam side down, in a non-stick baking pan.
10 - Make 3 more beef Wellingtons in same manner.
11 - Chill remaining egg wash for brushing on pastry just before baking. Chill beef Wellingtons, loosely covered, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
12 - Preheat oven to 425°F.
13 - Brush top and sides of each beef Wellington with some remaining egg wash and bake 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden.

THOUGHTS:
I cannot believe I have never had beef wellington before and I'm even more surprised about how easy it is to make. I am using this recipe as the main dish for an upcoming dinner party. All of the preparation is done in advance which makes it the perfect dish when entertaining.