Socialslaves Cottage Pie

Chef Robert Irvine called Shepherd's Pie the national dish of England.

Chef Gordon Ramsay says: “F@@k, nobody over here knows how to cook the F@@king thing, Shit!”

The earliest records refer to it as Cottage Pie. Left-over meat and vegetables on a crust of mashed potatoes: covered with more mashed potatoes. A good filling meal for the less fortunate masses who had to live in those tiny cottages. Now we differentiate the pies by what meat is in them. Shepherd's pie is made with lamb & Cottage Pie is made with beef.

This would be Cottage Pie.
Since Friday has been named as International Pie Day, rather on a whimsy of some international geeks (Pi = 3.14) slave thought it would be fun to make an international pie, hence an English Cottage Pie!

Ingredients
For the potatoes:
4 red potatoes peeled & diced
¼ cup half-and-half
2 ounces unsalted butter
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 egg yolk

For the filling:

1 lbs ground beef

½ lbs country sausage loose

1 onion chopped

1 green pepper chopped

1 16oz pkg. frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)

1 can mushroom soup (condensed, low-fat low-salt)

1 can celery soup (condensed, low-fat low-salt)

4 cloves garlic
4Tbs Worcestershire Sauce (low sodium)
¼ cup fine shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
Pre Heat the oven to 400 and spray an oblong pan with cooking spray, set aside.

Peel and dice the potatoes. Cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, lower the temp so that you just maintain the simmer. cook 10 to 15 minutes. Heat the butter and ½ & ½ in microwave till melted about 25 sec. Drain the potatoes and mash, add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper as you mash until you get the right texture. Remember if at first it seems like its too runny, keep mashing and it will firm up. When you are happy with it, stir in the yolk until it is well mixed in.

While the potatoes are cooking:

Over medium-high heat, crumble the sausage and start to cook, give it about 3 - 4 minutes head start, then crumble in the ground beef. Stir and cook until well done and no pink remains. About 8 minutes, then add the 4 tbs of Worcestershire sauce and cover it to simmer for another 2 minutes. Drain the meat in a bowl lined with paper towels.

Add the onion, garlic, and green pepper. Stir to loosen any bits on the bottom of pan. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes, then add the mixed vegetables and carefully stir in the cans of condensed soup. Add the meat back and let this simmer 5 minutes.

This may quietly simmer while you mash the potatoes. Now you are ready to assemble.

Place the sprayed pan on a lined cooking sheet (to catch any boil overs).

Dish in the meat-vegatable mixture. Then add the mashed potatoes by dropping large tablespoonfuls around the edges first. You wont be able to spread this like an icing and you want to seal the top with the mash potatoes. Once the topping is on sprinkle the finely shredded cheese over everything and put in the oven for between 25 to 30 minutes, Or until the potatoes start to turn a golden color.

This makes a great hearty meal with meat, vegetables, even a gravy, all you need to add is a salad!

Have a happy pie day!

Socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon