Big City Steak

Place peppercorns in a resealable plastic bag and gently crush with a mallet or the back of a frying pan; transfer to a plate. Season steaks with salt to taste and then coat both sides with crushed peppercorns.

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add steaks and cook until browned about 5 minutes per side or until cooked to your liking. Transfer steaks to a serving plate and cover to keep warm.

Pour cognac into skillet and boil 1 minute while stirring to remove any browned bits stuck to skillet. Add stock and cook to reduce by half, about 5 minutes. Pour in cream and cook another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour over steaks to serve.