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Shepherd's Pie Recipe

This is a family favorite and it makes leftovers that work great for lunches. This started as a recipe from my college roommate, but I have been updating it over the years, so it no longer bears any resemblance to the original. I don't know how authentic it is, but it sure is yummy.

Ingredients

Shepherd's Pie:
2 pounds meat (ground beef, lamb, or bison)
2 packs of instant mashed potatoes
1 onion, chopped
Minced garlic to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/4 cup Spoons Worcestershire Sauce
1lb frozen peas and carrots

Gravy:
1/4 cup spoons of flour
1C milk
1 Tbs Herbs de Provenance

Preparation


  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.  
  • Brown the meat in a big skillet with the onion, garlic, black pepper, and frozen peas and carrots.
  • In a separate pot, make the mashed potatoes according to the directions on the packages.
  • Drain excess grease from browned meat into a new, small pot.  
  • Put Worcestershire Sauce into the meat and stir. Remove from heat.  
  • Mix milk, flour, and herbs and pour into the pot with the grease and make gravy (slowly bring to boil on medium heat while continuously stirring - do not walk away)  
  • When the gravy is ready (bubbly and thick looking), pour that into the big skillet with the meat and veggies and stir. You may not need all of the gravy.
  • If you are baking in a casserole, put the meat mixture into a 3QT casserole (or other big dish). If you are using an oven-safe skillet then leave the meat where it is.
  • Spread the mashed potatoes on top of the meat.
  • Bake the whole thing for 30 min at 350 degrees.



Notes

  • You can use any ground meat, but my unscientific research makes me think that lamb might be more authentic. You can use whatever you have,
  • My "packs of instant mashed potatoes" are from Costco. Again, use whatever you have, or mash your own, if you like.
  • I make this in my 5QT Le Creuset dish and then bake it in the same dish. You can also use a large skillet and a casserole dish.
  • The frozen peas and carrots are a time saver and also my attempt to get more veggies into the dinner. Sometimes I use fresh carrots if I have them. 
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Location: Seattle, WA, USA

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