Ever have an empty pantry but a table full of hungry people? or perhaps need to make a small amount of meat stretch? Sheperd's Pie is a wonderful solution to that! I made an awesome one the other day - super simple, pantry food based, so anyone can make it. Originally it was made with minced lamb, and fresh vegetables, but not everyone has access to all that right now. This version is made with just 1lb of meat, and a couple of cans. It lasted 3 people 2 days of dinner.
This can be made in any deep type of oven-ready dish. I used a large cast-iron skillet for mine. Even a pie tin from one of those frozen pies will work, too, if thats all you have
:Ingredients:
1 lb. Ground meat (I used beef, but any meat will do - turkey, chicken, sausage - whatever)
2-3 cans of any veggie you like (carrots, peas, and potatoes are popular)
1 can cooking soup, or one pouch gravy mix (your choice 4 flavor)
about 3-4 cup worth instant mashed potatoes (depending on how thick you want your top. remember, the sauce will sometimes bubble up )
shredded cheese (optional)
salt, pepper, seasonings of choice
(I used oregano, fresh onion slivers (about 1/8 c just for flavor) and thyme)
Heat oven to 375 F
First of all, you want to cook your meat beforehand. The veggies are already cooked from the canning process, so you dont want to add raw meat to that. Brown the meat well in a skillet, adding a little bit of salt, and pepper to the meat if you like. This would also be a good time to season the meat with any seasonings you may want to. I (if youre using a cast-iron in the oven, cooking the meat in that pan is perfectly fine).
If you are using instant potatoes, now's the time to boil water, and prepare them as the directions say.
If using real potatoes, cut them into little pieces (they cook faster) after peeling if you dont like the skin, and toss them in a pot of boiling water, for about 10 min, or until a fork goes through like butter. drain potatoes smash them, with a couple of Tablespoons of milk and one of butter to make creamy. Set aside for later.
Now comes the easy part(skillet on M heat to warm sauce)
Drain the fat off the meat, and set aside. Make gravy packet/open cooking soup (unwatered down!) and pour into skillet, to get the craklins from the meat off the bottom for added flavor, while it warms, open up your couple of cans of veggies, drain them, and pour them into the pan w/the gravy.
Once this is stirred in, put the meat back into it, and if you are not using a cast iron at this point, pout the mess into the baking dish.
Top this with your mashed potatoes, make sure you get them all the way to the edge, like a top pie crust (hence the name)
Cover this with your cheese of choice, and if you like, something like fresh onions, or another topping that would go with your sauce flavor of choice.
You want to leave one or two spots just slightly away from the edge of the dish, because the sauce will bubble as it heats, and if the gas cant escape.... its fun time for the oven cleaner. It only has to heat through, since everything is cooked. Once the cheese is bubbly, and all melty burnt goodness, its ready to take out. This can also be made in a toaster oven for a one-person meal.
This is such a versatile meal, its perfect for a situation such as this.
Let me know if you have any questions. Sorry no pics for this one. I didnt know about this thread when i cooked it. I'll have pics from now on.
..process..
