Shepherd's Pie Recipes

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 onion (optional)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp chopped garlic (1 for the beef 1 for the mash)
1 can beef broth
1/4 cup flour
1 cup frozen/canned corn or 3 large chopped carrots
5-6 medium potatoes (red, yukon, or white)
splash of milk
1-2 tbsp butter
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella or marble)
sprinkle of dry parsley flakes
sprinkle of paprika

Directions
In a fry pan with 1 tbsp of olive oil, brown on a medium to high heat the 1 lb of ground beef (you can substitute this with ground pork, turkey, etc)

Should you choose to use the onion, chop, add & fry it with the beef now.

At this time I will often add a tsp of chopped garlic.

Clean and chop into small pieces your potatoes. Adding them to a pot of boiling water. I often leave the skins on for added vitamins.

Boil potatoes until tender (test this by stabbing one with a fork...when you lift it out of the pot the potato chunk will slide off the fork and back into the pot)

Once all the ground beef is fully cooked, strain the grease off, return to medium heat, add 1 can of beef broth and 1/4 cup flour.

Stir and mixture will instantly thicken. Once thickened & fully cooked. Spoon beef mixture into casserole dish...you now have your base!

Veggies can be mixed in with the beef just before casserole dish entry OR if you like layers, put the beef in the dish 1st then add layer of cooked corn or carrots or pea mixture...whichever you prefer.

I like layers...I will cook corn or chopped carrots in microwave for 5 min on high in a covered measuring cup with couple tbsp of water.

Now it's time to mash our potatoes...drain off boiling water, add splash of milk (approx 1/2 cup...it varies...this is usually done by eye ...if you want thicker? add less milk...you want creamy? add more milk...best to start off less and add more slowly) Then add tbsp or 2 of butter and mash with masher.

I also like to add a tsp of chopped garlic to my mashed potatoes. You can do that now.

Once potatoes have reached desired consistency, scoop them out and on to your beef & veg in the casserole dish.

Spread potatoes neatly as top layer and then I like to sprinkle shredded cheese, followed by sprinkles of dried parsley and a little sprinkle of paprika for color!

Place completed dish into a pre-heated oven at 350F for approx 20 minutes and then broil the top...keep an eye on that broiler...it doesn't take long to burn cheese!

Remove, let cool slightly, and serve with gravy!
Yum!