Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie
Serves 6

Garlic Mashed Potato Topping:
Ingredients:
8 medium Yukon Gold or other golden flesh potatoes
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions: 

1. Peel potatoes and chop into large pieces. Place potatoes and peeled garlic cloves in a medium sized saucepan and add enough water to cover.
2. Boil 20 – 25 minutes (while you are sauteing the meat and vegetables for the filling) until the potatoes are fork tender (meaning a fork or knife slides easily into the potato when you test it).
3. Drain the water from the saucepan and add the remaining ingredients. Mash together with a potato masher until the mixture comes together and is smooth. You can whip with a whisk or give it a whiz in the food processor if you want the potatoes really smooth, I don’t bother.
4. Taste and season further with salt and pepper if desired.
5. Spoon the topping over the meat filling in the casserole dish and “rough up” the top with a fork so that it will drown nicely.

Ingredients:
1 pound ground lamb
1/2 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
1 large carrot, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 small boiled potato, mashed
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Garlic Mashed Potato Topping

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Over medium heat, brown the ground lamb and beef in a large saute pan with the tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery and chopped herbs. Saute 5 to 10 minutes until the vegetables are beginning to soften. Stir in the salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, mashed potato and the 1/4 cup of water. Simmer over low heat until the water is absorbed. The potato will help to thicken the mixture so that it does not fall apart when you are serving. Stir in the cup of peas and season to taste, adding more salt or pepper if you desire.
3. Transfer the meat mixture to an oven safe casserole dish. Top with the Garlic Mashed Potato Topping (recipe follows). Create a rough texture with the topping so that it browns while in the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or just until the meat mixture is bubbling and the topping has browned. Serve and enjoy.