Tag Archives: mashedpotatoes

Shepard’s Pie

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Shepard’s Pie (really cottage pie) is my favorite go to for cooler weather comfort foods. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want and it tastes good no matter which way you prepare it. This is just one way I cook it, though I still go back to precooked mashed potatoes, American cheese on top, condensed soup mixed with the ground beef, and peas on the side when I’m short on time.

  • 1 1/4 lb ground beef
  • 1 1/2 lb potatoes, peeled
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 stick + 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 4 oz. sliced mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • a generous splash of beer
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 10 oz frozen peas and carrots
  • 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Place potatoes in a pot and fill with just enough water to cover potatoes. Bring water to boil over high heat, then reduce and simmer, covered, about 15 minutes.

Heat 2 tbsp butter over  medium high heat in sauce pan. Add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and salt and pepper, cook mushrooms until tender. Add Worcestershire sauce, and beer, and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in beef broth and while that warms up, combine cold water with cornstarch, then pour into mushroom mixture and let simmer. While sauce thickens, cook and crumble ground beef and drain grease. Stir mushroom gravy into cooked ground beef by heaping spoonfuls until beef in well coated.( You may need all the gravy to coat the meat well, but keep any remaining warm on stove top to serve on top of the pie when it’s ready.) Mix in peas and carrots. Let meat mixture simmer on low while preparing potatoes.

Potatoes are done when pierced easily with fork. Remove from heat and drain. Mix in 1/2 stick butter, and mash with potato masher. Slowly add milk while mashing and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Pour meat mixture into 2 quart casserole. Spread mashed potatoes over meat mixture, and cover with cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with hot, buttered yeast rolls and enjoy!