Shepherds Pie

When you come from a large family, you eat a lot of one pan dishes.  Most commonly known as "Casseroles".  Which I did groaning up, eat A LOT of casseroles.  Casseroles of every kind, beef chicken, noodle, tuna, pork,  they were all good.  My mother is an excellent cook, and great at cooking on a tight budget.  She had too, she had 6 children in 9 years.  Some of those casseroles have made there way into my families favorite recipes.  We however, never use the word casserole in our home.  That is a discussing word to my husband.  He too being the oldest of 5 children at a lot of casseroles growing up and can't force himself to eat something that bares its name.  Hehehe this always makes me laugh.  Anyway I call things by what's in them except for one dish, and it does have the name casserole in it.

Shepherds Pie is a super easy one dish wonder.  You can have it mixed up really fast.  Especially if you use instant potatoes..(sometimes I do use instant, don't tell my hubby). If you put it in a glass dish with a glass lid you can cook it in the microwave in like 5-10 min.  But my favorite thing to do, is to make it up and then bake it in the oven for 30 min to warm it through.  Perfect if you have somewhere you have to be during the dinner hour.  You can pre-make this and either bakes in the oven using your timed bake so the oven shuts off for you and keeps dinner warm.  Or  just pull out when you get home, pop it in the microwave and 10 min later you have dinner.  A jello or green salad goes great with this. This is also a dish that is a great left over.  Almost better the second day than the first.

Another great thing about this dish it is so easy to adjust the amount.  You can make this smaller or larger.  It freezes great too.  So if there is just a couple of you or just your wonderful self. You can mix this up and freeze in smaller quanties.   Just remember to use a dish that could be both in the oven or microwave so it will be ready for whatever kind of day you are having.

Shepherd's Pie

1 Can of Green Beans, Drained (you can use frozen or fresh)

1 lb. Hamburger

Cold Mashed Potatoes

1/4 Onion

Cheddar Cheese, Grated

1 Can Tomato Soup

Brown hamburger with onion.  Add the can of tomato soup.  Spread in the bottom of a glass dish.  Then layer green beans,  Spread evenly.  Then put the mashed potatoes on top.  Sprinkle grated cheese on top.  You can sprinkle with salt and pepper and paprika.  

Bake at 350 for 30-40 min. or until heated through.

Enjoy!

Keeping it Simple

Kate