Photo courtesy of Sarasota Manatee Originals.

Celebrate this President's Day in style with a dish that is as American as apple pie—a big, juicy, tender steak, that is. Try your hand at Euphemia Haye's famed prime pepper steak, a 16-ouncer that will have you licking your lips long after the meal is finished. The combo of Worcestershire sauce and E.H. Steak Sauce just adds to the classic plate—dig in and get dippin'.

Ingredients: 1 cup (+/-) corn or peanut oil; 1 16-oz. prime sirloin steak, trimmed; salt, to taste; 2 cups cracked black peppercorns; 1 oz. brandy

Sauce: Juice from ½ orange, (2 oz.); 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce; 3 oz. E.H. Steak Sauce; 1 oz. unsalted butter, room temp.

The steak: Heat oil in a cast iron skillet that will just hold the oil and steak comfortably. The oil should sputter, not smoke, when a drop of water is added. Salt the steak liberally and place it on a pan of cracked peppercorns. Pound the steak into the pepper until completely embedded on all sides. Fry the pepper-coated steak in the hot oil. Cook on both sides until the steak has reached your desired doneness. Note: The steak will continue to cook while you prepare the sauce. Pour off oil and return pan, with steak, to fire. Step back and add brandy. Be careful, as a very large flame may result. After flames subside. Remove steak to a serving plate.

The sauce: Add to the pan the fresh orange juice, Worcestershire sauce and E.H. Steak Sauce. Stir with a fork. Reduce sauce until thick, stirring occasionally. Fold in the soft butter and remove from heat immediately. Pour sauce next to the steak and serve. Note: If you are serving more steaks, scale the sauce recipe, one recipe for each steak however, use only enough oil to half submerge the steaks during the frying process. The oil will bubble and rise.

Photo courtesy of Sarasota Manatee Originals.

Euphemia Haye, 5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, 941-383-3633.