Leftover Cottage Pie Food

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Heat oven to 350 F.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onion in the olive oil until softened and lightly browned.
• Add the beef and butter and saute for about 1 minute longer.
• Stir in the flour until blended.
• Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, peas, and carrots.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Spoon the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• If using leftover mashed potatoes, warm them in a saucepan with a little butter or milk until softened.
• Stir sour cream and cheese into the potatoes.
• Spoon potatoes evenly over the beef layer and sprinkle lightly with paprika.
• Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
• If desired, turn on the broiler to brown the top for just a minute or two, but watch carefully to prevent burning.

COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan and fry 1¼ kg beef mince until browned - you may need to do this in batches. Set aside as it browns.
• Put the other 2 tbsp olive oil into the pan, add 2 finely chopped onions, 3 chopped carrots and 3 chopped celery sticks and cook on a gentle heat until soft, about 20 mins.
• Add 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, 3 tbsp plain flour and 1 tbsp tomato purée, increase the heat and cook for a few mins, then return the beef to the pan.
• Pour over a large glass of red wine, if using, and boil to reduce it slightly before adding the 850ml beef stock, 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, a few thyme sprigs and 2 bay leaves.
• Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 45 mins. By this time the gravy should be thick and coating the meat. Check after about 30 mins - if a lot of liquid remains, increase the heat slightly to reduce the gravy a little. Season well, then discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks.
• Meanwhile, make the mash. In a large saucepan, cover the 1.8kg potatoes which you've peeled and chopped, in salted cold water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender.
• Drain well, then allow to steam-dry for a few mins. Mash well with the 225ml milk, 25g butter, and three-quarters of the 200g strong cheddar cheese, then season with freshly grated nutmeg and some salt and pepper.
• Spoon the meat into 2 ovenproof dishes. Pipe or spoon on the mash to cover. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
• If eating straight away, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and cook for 25-30 mins, or until the topping is golden.
• If you want to use a slow cooker, brown your mince in batches then tip into your slow cooker and stir in the vegetables, flour, purée, wine, stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs with some seasoning. Cover and cook on High for 4-5 hours. Make the mash following the previous steps, and then oven cook in the same way to finish.

LAZY COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Brown beef and onion together in a large skillet, drain fat.
• Place meat into a medium greased caserole dish (it doesn't matter what shape- you want to be able to have the meat spread in one layer).
• Spread the beans on top.
• Spread the unprepared soup on top of the beans using a spatula.
• Next spread the mashed potatoes over all, sealing edges.
• Sprinkle with cheese, if desired (I often omit).
• Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350 F or 180 C oven for about 20 minutes, or until bubbling.
• NOTE:If you like, use a fork to make lines in the mashed potatoes (or, you could also pipe the mashed potatoes on top using a decorating bag with a wide star tip if you aren't feeling quite so lazy).

COTTAGE PIE CAKES

Steps:

• Heat a large frying pan until hot. Dry-fry the mince until browned, breaking it up with a fork. Crumble in the stock cube and 1 tbsp of the flour, and mix well. Add the Worcestershire sauce and peas, and mix well to combine.
• Tip the mince mixture into a bowl and cool a little, before stirring in the mash and shaping into 6 cakes. Dust the cakes in the remaining flour, then dip them into the egg, then the crumbs. Chill for at least 10 mins, longer if you have time.
• Heat the oil in a large pan. Fry the cakes for 3-4 mins each side, until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper. Season with a little salt and serve with baked beans.

ROAST BEEF COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375* F.
• Press about 2/3 of the potates into the bottom and up the sides of a 2 1/2-3 qt baking dish. Set aside remaining potates.
• Prepare gravy according to package directions; set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet and saute onion and granulated garlic until onion is tender and just beginning to turn golden.
• Add frozen vegetables and saute until just warmed, about 5-6 minutes. Add beef and saute 2-3 minutes longer. Add gravy, mix together well, and heat until bubbling.
• Pour beef mixture into potato shell. Carefully spread remaining potatoes over the top (if very full, you can place the baking dish on a cookie sheet to catch drips if it bubbles over).
• Bake at 375* F for 25-30 minutes or until top is turning golden and filling is hot. Serve immediately.