Shepherd's Pie

**Thanks for all of the kind words about the newest addition to our family! We are finally heading home today!**

This was a creation I came up with while trying to use food I had in the fridge and freezer. My hubby loves shepherd's pie, although I have never made it for him. Well this night was the night for him! He was thrilled when I told him that was what we were having for dinner. It was delicious. It doesn't have a ton of flavor, just enough, but I don't think it's usually overly flavorful anyway. You can always add more salt and pepper or some hot sauce to it if you need more flavor. But it was really good in my opinion. My kids enjoyed the meat and veggies, but they are not fans of mashed potatoes, so they left those and grumbled about them being on their plate. But I really didn't care. Definitely try this, it makes a lot and isn't too expensive to make. If you have your meat already browned, this could be made really quickly.

 

Shepherd's Pie

courtesy of This Mommy Cooks adapted from many recipes

Ingredients:

for the pie

1-1 1/2 pounds ground turkey or beef

1/2 onion, diced

2 TBSP flour

1 1/2 cups beef broth (I found some without MSG, yippee!)

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 cups frozen peas

1 cup frozen carrots, cooked and pureed

mashed potatoes

for the mashed potatoes

5-6 medium to large red potatoes (or 3 large russet)

1/2-1 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

3-4 TBSP salted butter

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Wash and scrub potatoes. If you prefer to peel them, do so now. Boil water and cook potatoes in boiling water until a fork easily pierces the potatoes.

While potatoes are boiling, brown hamburger or turkey meat until cooked through. Drain excess grease. Add in onions and cook meat and onions together until onions are translucent. Sprinkle meat mixture evenly with flour and add in beef broth. Stir over low to medium heat until mixture thickens and forms a gravy. Mix in pureed carrots, peas, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat for a few minutes.

While meat mixture heats, finish mashed potatoes. Drain the water and return to hot pan. Mash potatoes, add in butter, cream, salt and pepper, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. I start with 1/2 cup of cream and then add more until I get the consistency  that I want. Make sure you adequately salt the potatoes.

In a deep pie plate, 8x8 baking dish, or anything else you think would work, scoop meat mixture in, spreading evenly. Then spread mashed potatoes on top of meat mixture evenly. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top. Place in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until top beginning to brown, then put it under the broiler for 3-5 minutes to brown the top. (I had to put mine on top of a baking sheet because at the end it began to boil over just a bit.)