Easy Shepherd's Pie, adapted from Rachael Ray

I'm blogging in real time!  Usually, I wait until the weekends to organize and edit food photos. Tonight, is an exception. I wanted to share this recipe with you, because it's a family favorite-- and it was on the dinner table less than an hour after I arrived home from work.  I've been making this recipe for at least five years.  Today, we are experiencing heavy rain.  I wanted soup....maybe stew. Then I remembered, that I had thawed some ground lamb  and it was in the refrigerator.  Shepherd's Pie is one of my favorite "comfort casseroles" and this recipes has never failed to please my family. Rachael Ray calls this recipe "30 Minute Shepherd's Pie".  I'm quick with chopping, but this takes about 45 minutes to make. It's super easy, and you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry-- and it's flavorful. I've made some changes to the recipe, which I think improves the flavor.  You start with a combination of ground beef and ground lamb. You can go all beef, or you could go all turkey-- but, to me Shepherd's Pie needs lamb.
PREP WORK: Peel some Russet potatoes, cube them and start to cooking until fork tender.  Start cooking your meat....

Make room for the veggies and saute' them for about five minutes... meanwhile, start the gravy:

Season the meat with kosher salt and pepper. I also add thyme-- a palmful and 2 Tablespoons of tomato paste. Rachael doesn't, but I think it adds a lot more flavor.

I double the gravy by melted 4 Tablespoons butter, 4 Tablespoons flour, 4 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce and 1 1/2 cups beef stock (you can always add more broth later on). Cook until the sauce thickens, and pour it into your meat filling.

If the meat filling is too thick, I add a little more beef stock. Now add some frozen peas. I use a lot--like a cup.  Mix it up and put it into a casserole dish. You can also put these in individual ramekins, would could be fun for company.

Yum.  (I won't say Yum-O)

I love the potatoes! Drain them, add 2 Tablespoons of cream cheese (sour cream works, but cream cheese is our favorite).   I used 1% milk, instead of heavy cream, and they were plenty creamy and flavorful.  I've got enough fat grams going, as it is!  Now add one egg yolks and mix. Adjust seasoning with some salt. Super creamy!  Add the potatoes on top and sprinkle with paprika-- for color. Fire up the broiler and move the rack to the top.

Broil until browned on top-- maybe five minutes, but watch closely!

Garnish with fresh parsley.  Poor a glass of Irish Harp Beer (I wish....) and serve Irish Soda Bread, if desired. A salad, on the side is good, too.  Start the log going in the fireplace...

Watch your loved ones looking anxiously for their serving to be dished....

There's a pub where I live that serves Shepherd's Pie, and I love it. Know what?

This one is just as good!  It's easy to make. After a 10 hour work day, I was able to pull this off and still have time to blog and unwind a bit.  This dish freezes really well, too.  Guess what's in my lunch box for tomorrow?  

If you love lamb, this is a great Shepherd's Pie. I'm gearing up for St. Patrick's Day, by thinking of traditional recipes from across The Pond.  So far, I've made Irish Soda Bread,, and now this family favorite recipe.  I think Colcannon is next, which I love!  To print the recipe, please scroll to the bottom of this post.

It's time to wind down and hit the sack. It's Rise 'N Shine at 5:30am.   Three more days until the weekend. I have so many recipes to blog-- and so little time!

I am enjoying and appreciating the rain,