Two Potato Shepherds Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Scrub and pierce potatoes; rub with oil. Bake at 375° until tender, about 1 hour., In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, peppers and garlic over medium heat until beef is no longer pink; drain. Add the mixed vegetables, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, steak seasoning, salt, pepper, cayenne and 1 teaspoon paprika. Cook and stir until vegetables are tender., When potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut a thin slice off the top of each and discard. Scoop out the pulp, leaving thin shells., In a large bowl, mash the pulp with butter. Add the whipping cream, sour cream, cheeses and chives. Mash potatoes until combined. Spoon 1 cup meat mixture into each potato shell; top with 1/2 cup potato mixture. Sprinkle with remaining paprika. , Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; bake until melted, about 5 minutes longer. Sprinkle with chives and paprika. Freeze option: Wrap unbaked stuffed potatoes and freeze in a freezer container. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Bake as directed, adding additional time until heated through.

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef, sausage, mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender; drain., Stir orange juice, orange zest, nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper into skillet. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is evaporated. , Preheat oven to 350°. Transfer meat mixture to two greased 8-in. square baking dishes., Drain potatoes and place in a large bowl. Add mustard, brown sugar, vinegar and remaining salt and pepper; mash until smooth. Spread over meat mixture., Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until heated through.

Steps:

• Coat a wide pan with olive oil and bring to a medium-high heat. Sprinkle the lamb with salt and toss with the flour.
• Add the lamb to the pan and brown well on all sides. Remove the lamb from the pan and reserve. Ditch the oil in the pan and add a splash new olive oil. Add the carrots, celery and leeks to the same pan. Season the mixture with salt and cook, stirring frequently until the vegetables are soft and very aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the tomato paste and cook until the tomato paste starts to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the beer and cook until it reduces by half. Return the lamb to the pan. Add enough stock to just cover the surface of the lamb. Taste and season with salt if needed. Toss in the bay leaves and thyme bundle. Bring the stock to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Partially cover and simmer until the lamb is tender, about 1 hour. When the stock level reduces, replace with more to keep the meat submerged.
• Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover by 1 inch with tap water. Season the water with salt and bring the water to a boil. Boil the potatoes until they are fork tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the water from the potatoes and pass them while they are still hot through a food mill. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the cream to a boil. Beat the cold butter and hot cream into the pureed potatoes. Taste and season with salt if needed. The potatoes should be creamy and very flavorful.
• Remove the lid from the lamb and add the peas. Simmer for 15 minutes more to allow the stock level to reduce. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. When done, the lamb mixture should be thick and stew-like. Remove the bay leaves and thyme bundle and discard.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Transfer the lamb to a wide, flat flameproof baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes over the lamb mixture in an even layer. Place the baking dish under the preheated broiler. Broil until the potatoes are golden brown and crispy.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash. Mix in butter, finely chopped onion and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, mash and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
• Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook until clear. Add ground beef and cook until well browned. Pour off excess fat, then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add ketchup and beef broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Next, spread a layer of mashed carrots. Top with the mashed potato mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet and add onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Cook over low heat until softened, about 12 minutes. Stir in turkey or chicken and cook until heated through. Add the gravy and orange juice to the mixture and cook until bubbling. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley and sage and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a round, oval or 9-by-12-inch baking dish and let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400°. In a bowl, mix both potatoes together and add chives. Season with salt and pepper and beat in the egg. Spread the potatoes over the filling and brush the top with the melted butter.
• Bake in the upper third of the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling. Let the pie stand for about 10 minutes before serving.