EASY Shepherd's Pie

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This was the first time I have made this dish, it was a request from my husband ♥ who's grandmother had made it when he was younger. So I did a little research and found a few recipes and went with my own version/taste. Chris remembers his grandmother's little different than my version or the versions I had seen online...she probably just made her own version and made more layers. :) In my search I found a lot of different versions. Some called for Worcestershire sauce and I'm going to try that next time. 

Shepherd's Pie was a dish made with Lamb or Mutton. BTW if you don't know what Mutton is, its a older Sheep (don't feel bad, I had to look it up lol) The origin was that shepherds were concerned with Sheep, not Cattle. American's usually use Beef and that version of the dish, is called "Cottage Pie" But I'll just call it Shepherd's Pie since most people know what that is... For those of you who don't, its a Meat Pie covered in a crust of Mashed Potatoes. And as I found out, So Very! Good!! and easy, and we like easy ;)

Here is what you need:

Depending on the size of casserole dish you use...

I used a 8 x 11.5 baking dish (to small!!)

Approximately 2 Lbs. of Ground Beef

1/2 Cup each of either fresh, frozen or canned Veggies that you prefer. I used frozen corn and canned peas and carrots that I froze the extra from a earlier recipe. 

4-5 Large Potatoes or Instant Potatoes. I used Instant because this is a easy version :) And I didn't have any Idaho Potatoes. You can use any potatoes that you prefer.

Jar or can of Gravy

1/2 cup of Sour Cream

1/8 Teaspoon of Onion Powder (or fresh 1/2 Cup chopped,and cooked with the beef)...My Hubby doesn't like Onions :)

Corn, Gravy, Sour Cream, Peas, Carrots

Mozzarella-Mild Cheddar mix

Use Fresh

Or use Instant

         
 
              Or use

Preheat oven to 400 degree's.

Cook the ground beef and drain.

In a bowl combine cooked Meat, Gravy, Sour Cream...fold in the veggies,until mixed well.

Spread the  Meat mixture in Casserole Dish

Add a layer of Cheese, then a layer of Potatoes

Put on middle rack in oven for about 30 min. until golden, hot and bubbly.
Next time I'm going to use a bigger, deeper pan because mine bubbled over :/

**Also a word of caution if you would like yours browned more on top, don't put a glass dish under the broiler! it will crack!! 
I'm going to use my 13x9 metal cake pan next time so I can brown mine more and so it won't bubble over.... hopefully ;)

YUM!

Tator Tot Casserole

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This is one of those recipes that you just know you are going to love!
Its filling and Oh so Good! 
Its a cheesy-potato comfort food and easy to make, and we all like easy!!
 All -in-one meals are so nice.
Its a keeper!

**Updated on 3-5-12 
This dish fed 2 of us for 3 nights!! Pretty good deal, if I say so myself! :D

Here is what you need:


* 1 1/2 lbs. of Ground Beef (not pictured because I already cooked it, opps)
* Onion powder to taste (you can use real Onion, but I don't because my husband doesn't like them..its a texture thing. If you use real Onion you would want 1 small Onion chopped small.
* 1 tablespoon of Minced Garlic, or equivalent in fresh. 
* 1 1/2 Cups of frozen Corn, or 1 can of Corn (we like frozen)
* 1 can of  Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup.
* 2 Cups of Cheddar Cheese
* 1/2 Cup of Milk
* 4 tablespoons of Sour Cream
* 1 bag of Ore-Ida Crispy Crowns  Tator Tots (they are the flat-ish ones.)

Set the Ore-Ida Crowns out on the counter to thaw a bit (I put mine on a paper towel)

In skillet, cook Ground Beef, Onion powder (or Onion) and Minced Garlic. When finished cooking, drain and set aside.

In a bowl combine Mushroom soup, Sour Cream, and Milk, stir until well blended...add the Hamburger Mix, 1 Cup of Cheese and the Corn, and gently mix till blended.

Grease a 13x9  Baking Dish  and put a layer of Tater Tots on the bottom, scoop  the meat mixer on top of Tater Tots and smooth it out. Add another layer of Tater Tots, then sprinkle remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes (I like my tater tots crispy,this dish will be done at 25-30 minutes if you don't like yours as crispy) Make sure they are golden brown though :)

Mmmmm!

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Cousin Teresa's Crock Pot Cabbage Soup

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We like to try new recipes, that are easy! Lets face it the same ole' thing every week gets boring..so when my cousin posted on Facebook that she was making some Cabbage Soup, it sounded really good, and real easy!! So I got the recipe from her, and gave it a whirl .... we weren't disappointed!  Yum!!

Here is what you need:
1. Cabbage
2. Celery
3. Carrots
4. Onion
5. Red Potatoes
6. Chicken Broth
7. Seasonings consisting of: Beau Monde Seasoning, Salt, Pepper, Garlic Salt, Celery Seed, Onion Powder
8. **  see below
Chop everything up...

Put it all in your crock pot...
Add the seasonings....
(pretty much to your taste) I just kind of winged it on amounts, and it was fine.I just added a "little more" at a time.

Don't worry if you cant find the Beau Monde Seasoning, just add some extra celery seed, salt and onion powder,thats pretty much all it is..





Cover the whole thing with Chicken Broth, (I used 3 lg. 32oz boxes of chicken broth) I have a large crock pot! Cook on low for about 8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours or until the cabbage and veggies are soft.

And the end result...Yum ~  Thank You Teresa!

Serve with some good sopping bread ( I was thinking some nice Italian Bread, but my little close by grocery doesn't have a fresh bakery!? So I had to go with what they had, French Bread...that was good too, but...wanted Italian) The funny thing was I never realized that they didn't have a bakery, granted I've only lived in this town for about 4 months...

**I added 3 strips of bacon for some extra flavor...
I was trying to think of another meat that would be good in there, besides corned beef :)
Any suggestions?

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