My Husbands Favorite Shepherds Pie Recipes

SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
• Place the beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium bowl. Mash with your hand to combine. Set aside for 20 minutes.
• While the meat tenderizes, place the potatoes in medium saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are soft and fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher until they are dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sour cream, butter, half & half, and the remaining teaspoon of salt. Using a potato masher, stir and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
• Heat a 12-in oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the wine and increase the heat to high; bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half. Add the flour and stir until dissolved. Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce; continue cooking on high heat, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cook, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the thyme, pepper, peas, and reserved bacon, and cook until the peas are warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Dollop the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Use a rubber or offset spatula to spread the potatoes evenly over the stew and all the way to the edges of the skillet. Drag a fork across the top to make ridges. Place the skillet on a baking sheet or large sheet of foil to catch any drips and bake until the filling is hot, the topping is lightly browned, and the edges are bubbly, about 30 minutes. (For more color, turn on the broiler and broil for the last 5 minutes, or until the top is golden.) Sprinkle with chives and serve.
• Note: If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the meat mixture to a 2.5-qt casserole dish and then spread the mashed potatoes overtop.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: The stew portion of the recipe can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated. Before assembling the pie, reheat the stew, adding a little broth if necessary if it seems dry. The mashed potatoes should be made right before assembling and baking the pie.

MY HUSBANDS FAVORITE SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Wash and peel potatoes and boil them.
• When potatoes are almost done, start the hamburger meat and season to taste. (If using onion, brown onion first before putting in the hamburger meat). Mix in green beans and cream of chicken soup. Reduce heat to a simmer until thick. While simmering on low-medium heat; drain and mash potatoes using sour cream and milk, salt and pepper to taste.
• In a casserole or corning wear dish, place the hamburger mixture in the bottom and top with mash potatoes until it is evenly covered. Generously sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake in oven at 375°F until cheese is bubbling and potatoes are hot.

MEAT EATING HUSBANDS LOVE THIS SHEPHERDS PIE!

Steps:

• Mash cooked potatoes with as much soy milk as you need and lots of vegan buttery spread to make them nice and creamy.
• Add some salt and pepper and a sprinkle of garlic powder.
• Heat the oil in a large pan and saute the garlic and onion over medium heat until soft and translucent.
• Add the broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and celery and cook until veggies start to wilt.
• Add the broth and soy milk along with the cornstarch and flour.
• Let the mixture come to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Sauce will thicken up a bit.
• Season with salt and pepper if you need to.
• When all the vegetables are cooked, remove from heat.
• Spray a 8"x8" baking dish with nonstick oil spray and spoon the vegetable mixture onto the bottom.
• Cover with the potatoes and smooth them down.
• Sprinkle the top with nutritional yeast and French fried onions.
• Heat in oven for 10 minutes or so until top is slightly firm and onions are browned.
• Serve with garlic toast or fresh bread. Enjoy!
• Another way to prepare this is to spread half the potatoes on the bottom of the dish, add the veggies on top, then spread the remaining potatoes on top of the veggies.
• Either way it is delicious!