West Virginia Shepherds Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Place potatoes and parsnips in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain; mash potato mixture. Add the milk, butter, salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; mash until combined., In a large bowl, combine the eggs, mint, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, allspice and remaining pepper. Crumble lamb over mixture and mix well., In a large skillet, cook onion and celery in oil over medium heat until tender. Add lamb mixture; cook and stir until lamb is no longer pink; drain., Place lamb mixture in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish; sprinkle with peas. Spread potato mixture over peas. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Steps:

• Cook the corn according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Start the potatoes for the topping. Put them in a large pot with enough water to cover them by a couple of inches. Add about 2 teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring the potatoes to a boil, uncovered, over high heat. Cook them for 10 to 13 minutes. Meanwhile, make the meat filling.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion and celery in the butter, stirring often, for about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a wooden spoon as it browns. Remove the skillet from the stove and, resting it on a heatproof surface so it won't feel so heavy, tilt the pan so that the excess fat runs to the side. Carefully spoon out the fat and discard it (this will make the dish leaner and healthier, as well as lighter tasting).
• Put the skillet back on the burner and set the heat to medium low. Stir the garlic and flour into the beef mixture. Stir in the beef broth, then the canned tomatoes, then the herbs, reserved corn, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Gently simmer the mixture for several minutes, partially covered, then add salt (1/4 teaspoon, give or take a little) and pepper to taste. Transfer the mixture to a large buttered casserole. Set the oven to 400°, and while it heats, check to see if your boiling potatoes are done.
• To test the potatoes, use a slotted spoon to transfer a cube from the water to a cutting board and allow it to cool for 30 seconds or so. If you can slice through the chunk easily with a butter knife, the potatoes are done.
• Set a large colander in the sink and drain the potatoes in it (this job can generate a lot of steam, so it is best done by an adult or under adult supervision). Transfer the drained potatoes to a large mixing bowl and scatter the butter pieces over them. Spoon the sour cream here and there over the hot potatoes as well. Wait several minutes for the butter to melt and the sour cream to warm so the ingredients will be easier to blend, then partially mash the potatoes with a hand masher.
• Switch to an electric mixer set at medium speed and continue to mash, adding enough milk to make medium-soft mashed potatoes. Don't make them too soft, however; you want them to have some body.
• Salt the potatoes to taste and spoon them evenly over the filling. Sprinkle the cheese over the top, then sprinkle on some paprika (be sure to wash your hands right afterward so you don't accidentally rub any of the spice in your eyes). Bake the pie on the center oven rack for about 20 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Cool for several minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Potatoes
• Place potatoes in a large pot and pour in water to cover by 1"; season generously with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until fork-tender, 10-12 minutes.
• Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add garlic, milk, butter, pepper, and 1 tsp. salt. Using a potato masher or pastry cutter, mash potatoes until smooth. Cover and set aside.
• Filling and assembly
• While potatoes are cooking, mix chicken, scallions, lime zest, habanero, bitters, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl with a fork to combine. Let sit 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°. Heat oil in a large skillet with a lid over medium. Add chicken mixture and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon and stirring often, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato, carrots, ginger, ketchup, thyme, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to maintain a simmer, until filling is thickened slightly and carrots are softened, 10-12 minutes.
• Transfer filling to a 3-qt. baking dish and spread into an even layer. Spoon reserved mashed potatoes over and smooth into an even layer; sprinkle cheese on top. Bake shepherd's pie until filling is bubbling around the edges and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.
• Heat broiler. Broil pie until cheese is beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.