Special Shepherd's Pie

Mrs. BA is out tonight - she's delivering LBA and SoBA to my MIL for their "Spring Break."  They'll be back later this week.

The Brave Astronaut Clan had a lovely Easter Sunday yesterday - we had lamb, an outstanding potato gratin, grilled asparagus, and a great cake, prepared by Mrs. BA.  I tell you what, my wife can bake.

So with Mrs. BA out of the house, I headed home and made myself a little shepherd's pie for dinner tonight.
[Full Disclosure - I had every intention of making shepherd's pie - but my neighbors fed me instead.  And gave me beer.  And wine.  This after they loaned me their car for the day.  My neighbors rock, by the way!]


Not this one though -

"Sweet Shepherd's Pie"

But this one.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes

Ingredients 

• 1 1/2 lbs ground round beef 
• 1 onion chopped 
• 1-2 cups vegetables - chopped carrots, corn, peas 
• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs potatoes (3 big ones) 
• 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick) 
• 1/2 cup beef broth 
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 
• Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice 

Method

1. Peel and quarter potatoes, boil in salted water until tender (about 20 minutes). 
2. While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 Tablespoons butter (1/2 a stick) in large frying pan. 
3. Sauté onions in butter until tender over medium heat (10 mins). If you are adding vegetables, add them according to cooking time. Put any carrots in with the onions. Add corn or peas either at the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat has initially cooked. 
4. Add ground beef and sauté until no longer pink. Add salt and pepper. Add Worcestershire sauce. Add half a cup of beef broth and cook, uncovered, over low heat for 10 minutes, adding more beef broth as necessary to keep moist. 
5. Mash potatoes in bowl with remainder of butter, season to taste. 
6. Place beef and onions in baking dish. Distribute mashed potatoes on top. Rough up with a fork so that there are peaks that will brown nicely. You can use the fork to make some designs in the potatoes as well. 
7. Cook in 400 degree oven until bubbling and brown (about 30 minutes). Broil for last few minutes if necessary to brown. 

Yield: Serves four.
From Simple Recipes