Uncle Bills Shepherds Pie Recipes

UNCLE BILL'S SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• In a medium size saucepan, add cubed potatoes, cover with water and cook until tender; about 15 minutes.
• Drain potatoes when cooked; mash and set aside.
• In the meantime, in a large frying pan, add oil and butter and heat to melt on medium heat.
• In a bowl, combine ground beef, ground lamb, onions, garlic, beaten eggs, Worcestershire sauce and mix well to incorporate.
• Add mixture to frying pan and cook until beef is browned, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Now add carrots, petite peas, cauliflower florets, chopped zucchini, mushrooms, tomato paste, chili powder, seasoning salt, garlic salt, spaghetti seasoning and dry mustard; mix well and cook for about 5 minutes stirring often.
• Prepare a 7" x 10" or a 8" x 8" casserole dish by rubbing interior with butter or spraying with a vegetable oil.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Transfer beef mixture to prepared casserole dish, level and pat down slightly with a spatula.
• Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top.
• Bake in preheated 325°F oven for 30 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.
• Now sprinkle the grated cheese over the potatoes and return to oven and bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let sit for about 5 minutes to set before cutting into 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch squares.
• Serve with a dollop of ketchup if desired.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• Reheat 2 squares at a time in a microwave proof dish, on HIGH (full power) for 3 minutes or until nice and hot.

UNCLE BILL'S FRESH BEET FILLING FOR PYRAHI

Steps:

• Wash and scrub beets, cut off the tails and the end.
• In a saucepan, add beets, just cover with water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and cook until beets are just tender, about 30 minutes.
• Drain and immediately pour cold water over beets.
• When cool enough to handle, remove skins and discard.
• Grate beets.
• In a mixing bowl, add grated beets, sugar and salt, mix well.
• In a frying pan, melt butter, add beet mixture and saute' for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Let cool slightly before using.
• Use about 3 tablespoons of filling for each pyrahi.
• You can also use canned regular beets.
• Grate the beets and prepare them as above.

UNCLE BILL'S SAUERKRAUT WITH WINE

Steps:

• Break away any bad outside leaves and discard.
• Rinse cabbage under cold running water.
• Cut cabbage heads into quarters.
• Do not use cores, discard them after shredding.
• Finely shred cabbage or slice with a good sharp knife.
• In a large crock, layer with 2 inches of shredded cabbage.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of pickling salt.
• Place sliced pieces of one red pepper over.
• Repeat layering until all cabbage, salt and red pepper are used up.
• There should be about 4 layers.
• Pour water over cabbage.
• Now pour the wine over cabbage.
• Place a large plate to cover most of the top surface of the cabbage.
• Place a 4 to 5 pound clean rock (cleaned and washed and soaked in white vinegar) on top of the plate as a weight.
• If liquid does not come to the surface, just add a bit more cold water (or wine if you prefer.) Cover top with several layers of cheesecloth and tie with a good string so the cloth does not fall off.
• Leave cabbage to ferment for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm area (70 F to 75 F) or until it starts to foam around the edges of the plate.
• Move the crock to a cooler area (about 60 F to 65 F) and continue to ferment for another 2 weeks.
• At this time, taste to see if the sauerkraut is curing.
• When it suits your taste, pack the sauerkraut and some liquid into 12 sterilized quart size jars leaving a 1/2" head space.
• Wipe jar rims clean.
• Prepare and place lids according to manufacturers instructions.
• Place screw lids on just finger tight.
• Process in boiling water in a canner for 25 minutes.
• Remove jars and allow to cool for 12 hours.
• Check to see if all jars are sealed.
• Lids should be concave (curved down).
• Re-process jars that are not sealed, but remember to change with new lids.
• Store in a cool, dark place.

UNCLE BILL'S SOUTHERN STYLE PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine graham wafer crumbs, vanilla wafer crumbs and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans; mix well.
• Add 6 tablespoons of butter or margarine and using a pastry blender, work the mixture until crumbs are formed.
• Prepare a 9" x 13" x 2" deep, oven-proof casserole dish by spraying the inside with a vegetable oil.
• Dust inside with 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, discarding any excess flour.
• Spoon crumb mixture into casserole dish and using a potato masher that has square slots, press to about 1/4" thickness.
• Using a rounded spoon, press the crumb mixture 3/4 of the way up the sides to about 1/4" thickness.
• In a preheated 400 F oven, bake for 15 minutes to set the crust.
• In the meantime, in a large bowl, combine brown sugar and flour.
• Add eggs one at a time and whisk well until smooth.
• Add corn syrup, melted butter, salt and vanilla extract and whisk well to blend.
• Add raisins and 2 cups of chopped pecans and stir well to mix.
• Layer the bottom with 1 cup of whole pecans in no particular pattern; just random.
• Spoon mixture carefully over the pecans.
• Some of the pecans may float and this is okay.
• Reduce oven heat to 375 F and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the filling is slightly puffed and golden brown.
• Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
• When cooled, refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of icecream.

UNCLE BILL'S YORKSHIRE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, combine milk and flour.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition until batter is smooth.
• Add salt and mix well.
• Heat a 12 cup muffin pan for 3 minutes in preheated 450 F oven.
• Remove pan from oven and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil to each muffin cup.
• Return muffin pan to preheated 450 F oven and heat for about 2 minutes or until oil gets hot (THIS IS VERY IMPORANT.) Remove heated pan from oven and spoon about 3 tablespoons of batter into each cup until mixture is evenly distributed in the 12 cups.
• Return to oven and bake in preheated 450 F overn for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350 F and continue to bake for another 10 minutes or until Yorkshire pudding has risen and is lightly browned.
• DO NOT OPEN OVEN DOOR AT ANYTIME DURING THE BAKING PERIOD.
• At the end of the baking time specified, you may open the oven door to take a peek at the pudding to see if it has risen and is lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and serve immediately with your favorite gravy recipe along with your roast.
• If you have any fat from your roast, you may use this in lieu of the olive oil.
• Prepare muffin pan in the same manner.
• For an easy gravy, see recipe #25365.

UNCLE BILL'S FIG PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one pastry disk to make a 12-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate, leaving overhang. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. (Trader Joes store has an excellent pie crust that you can just unwrap and use.).
• Place figs in a medium bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice.
• In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well.
• Sprinkle mixture over figs, and toss to cover.
• Transfer fig mixture to pie crust and dot top with butter.
• Roll out second pie pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 1-inch-wide strips.
• Carefully weave dough strips in a lattice pattern over pie. Trim edges of lattice pastry flush with rim of pie plate. Roll dough overhanging from bottom pastry up over lattice edges and crimp decoratively.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden.
• Cool on rack and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

UNCLE BILL'S PIE PASTRY THAT IS FLAKY

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, sift together flour and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter, blend in butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add ice water gradually, stirring with a fork until dough forms.
• Remove dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is smooth.
• Pat dough down into a flat disk about 3/4 inch thick, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill.
• Place a large piece of parchment or wax paper on a flat surface and dust lightly with flour.
• Place the dough disk on the paper and roll out to a 13 inch round and about 1/8 inch thick.
• Carefully lift the paper into a 9 inch pie plate and slide the rolled dough into the plate and press dough to cover the bottom and form up the sides of the plate.
• Crimp the edges in a decorative pattern.
• Using a fork, pierce the bottom and sides all over so that the crust does not puff up when baking.
• Place a sheet of aluminum foil inside the formed dough crust and fill with dried beans or peas as a weight.
• Place the pie shell in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Remove pie shell from fridge with the beans and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove beans and foil and continue to bake for another 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and crisp.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Continue with whatever filling you decide to use.