Shepherds pie, (also called cottage pie), is basically a one-dish meat, veggie & gravy pie that is topped with mashed potatoes instead of pastry.  Traditionally this dish is made with lamb, but I never have ground lamb on hand, so this family favorite recipe, (which is my own variation), calls for ground beef instead.  Feel free to substitute in whatever ground meat you prefer! It’s such delicious comfort food. 🙂

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 Tbsp onion powder (hubby doesn’t like pieces of onions)
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 8 oz total frozen peas and carrots mix, (can include corn in the mix if you want.)
• 1 cup water
• 3 Tbsp brown gravy powder
• Homemade mashed potatoes (basic recipe below if you don’t have one)
• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly spray a 9×9 pan or pie dish with non stick cooking spray.
2. In a skillet pan, break up the ground beef and sprinkle with the salt, pepper, onion powder and dried parsley. 
3. Cook until the meat is browned all the way through, stirring frequently.   
4. Add the peas and carrots and let cook for a couple of minutes.  
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the water and gravy powder.  Pour over the ground beef and let cook until the gravy has thickened in the meat, (3-4 minutes.)
6. Pour the beef mixture in to the bottom of your prepared pan.  
7. Gently spoon your mashed potatoes over the top.  (I make sure mine are extra creamy so they spread easily.)  
8. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar over the top.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned and bubbly.  
10. Remove from the oven and let cool 5-10 minutes then serve.

Basic mashed potatoes:

Peel 5-6 medium sized potatoes and chop them in to about 1 inch cubes.  (About 1-1/2 to 2 pounds total.) Put them in a big saucepan and cover with cold water.  Add a tsp of salt and bring to a boil. Cook until they are fork tender.  (The fork breaks them apart easily, but they aren’t turned to mush.) Drain off the water and put them in a large mixing bowl and mash them up.  Add one stick of softened or melted butter, 1/4 cup whole milk or half and half, 1 heaped spoonful of sour cream, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Mash until they are the consistency you like.  (Add a little extra milk if they aren’t creamy enough to spread on the pie easily.)