French Fare: Steak Au Poivre Recipe

Name: French Fare: Steak Au Poivre Recipe
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons black peppercorns; 2 (1-inch) thick New York strip steaks (about 1/2 pound each), excess fat trimmed, at room temperature; kosher salt; 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil; 1/4 cup cognac; 2 small shallots, grated to a paste (preferably on a microplane); 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/4 cup creme fraiche; 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1/4 cup water; 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped; 1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated