Weeknight Shepherds Pie Food

SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
• Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

WEEKNIGHT SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet over medium heat, in hot oil, cook onion and garlic 5 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally. Remove to plate.
• In same skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until well browned on all sides, stirring frequently. Add flour; cook 1 minute. Add stewed tomatoes and thyme. Over high heat, heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. Stir in peas and carrots.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spoon mixture into greased deep-dish pie plate or baking dish. Toss sliced potatoes with butter. Arrange potatoes in center of casserole, overlapping slightly. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are lightly golden.

SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add beef; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked. Drain.
• Add mixed vegetables, tomato paste, salt and pepper; cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are hot. In small bowl, mix broth and flour with whisk. Add broth mixture to beef mixture. Heat to boiling; cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick. Spoon beef mixture into baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes over beef mixture; fluff with fork.
• Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.

JOAN'S WEEKNIGHT SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Brown beef, pour off fat. Add celery and onion, salt and pepper to taste. Add soup and milk. Simmer.
• Put into casserole, top with mashed potatoes. Brown in oven. (325 degrees or so.).
• You can skip browning if in a hurry, and just put the sauce on top of the potatoes.