Steak Au Pauvre with a Dijon Cognac Sauce

4 New York Strip Steaks
1 1/2 Cups fresh Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Kosher Salt
1 Tblspn. Olive Oil
3 Tblspn. Unsalted Butter
1/3 Cup Cognac (Brandy can be substituted)
1/3 Cup Heavy Cream
1 1/2 Tblspn. Dijon Mustard

Rinse and pat dry the steaks.  Put fresh coarse ground black pepper on a plate.  Sprinkle each steak with Kosher salt.  Place each steak onto the black pepper pressing it firmly to ensure that it is thoroughly coated with the black pepper.  Repeat for other side of the steak.  Once coated in pepper, let the steaks stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.  Heat olive oil and unsalted butter in a skillet over medium high heat.  Cook steaks.  Approximately 5 minutes on each side to blacken steak nicely.  If you prefer your meat well done, remove from skillet and place steak in a baking dish in the oven at 200 degrees until it is cooked through as this will allow the steak to maintain juiciness. 

Once all steaks are blackened, remove the skillet from the pan and add the Cognac.  Return it to the burner and ignite the cognac.  Use a wooden spoon to scrape pan and deglaze the pan thoroughly.  Add  the dijon mustard and the cream and stir thoroughly to incorporate.  Turn off heat and serve immediately.  Spoon sauce over the steaks and serve.