Hi Friends! I hope that you are all staying healthy! Now that we are all staying home more, I am sure that like me, you and your family are spending more time in the kitchen.

The following is my version of Shepherd's Pie. The real Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb. When it's made with beef it's called Cottage Pie. I make mine with beef and I call it Shepherd's Pie.

My son Michael loves it and it is what he requested I make for his birthday. Michael likes it with gravy. I like it without. I am including my recipe for gravy if you want to be like Michael…

Here we go….

Ingredients for Shepherd’s Pie:

6 large russet potatoes

5 tbs butter

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 16 oz bag frozen corn

2 cups Cheddar Jack or any other shredded cheese of your liking

2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs. granulated garlic

2 tbs. granulated onion

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tbs. salt

2 tsp. black pepper

Peel and cut potatoes. Place in a pan add some salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat and cook until soft. Drain, mash and add butter. set aside. If you have left over mashed potatoes, you can skip this step and use your leftovers. You will need about 3 cups of leftover mashed potatoes.

Now for the beef….Place the extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan and bring to medium heat. Place the ground beef in the pan , brake up as you brown. Add salt, pepper, oregano, granulated garlic and granulated onion. Keep stirring until light brown and cooked.

Put it all together…

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a square 2 Qt. baking dish add the corn (you don’t have to pre cook it. Just open the bag and pour in the dish. Spread it out.

Add cooked beef and spread it out.

Add mashed potatoes and spread it out. With a fork, make ridges one way then across.

Sprinkle the grated cheese on top and with your hands, spread it out.

Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until cheese has melted and it’s bubbly.

Meanwhile lets make the gravy….

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 tbs butter

1/2 cup beef broth

2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp granulated garlic

1 tsp granulated onion

2 tsp Gravy Master or more if you want the gravy darker

In a small sauce pan, add the butter and in low heat melt.

Add flour and stir until all blended

Add salt, garlic, onion and pepper, stir together

Add Gravy Master, stir

Slowly add beef broth and stir together till watery

Over low heat, simmer until desired thickness

End results….

Remove Shepherd’s Pie from the oven. Let it cool for about 10 minutes to make it easier to cut.

Cut in squares to your desired portion.

If you are like Michael, add gravy on top.

You can serve this with any vegetable side, except of course, corn since you already have plenty !

Enjoy!! Let me know how it comes out!!