Shepherd's Pie

Here is a recipe for my hearty Shepherd's Pie, perfect for a cold winter's night! The garlic in the potato topping makes this farmhouse classic even more divine. This recipe is very special to me, as it is the first real dish I ever cooked on my own from scratch. You can mix and match ingredients, depending on what you prefer or the kind of diet you follow. Remember, at the end of the day, you're the one eating it, so personalize it!

A beautiful, garlicy, fluffy, yet crunchy mashed potato topping

Ingredients:
- olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 carrots, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 2 lbs ground meat/meat substitute (I use a 50/50 beef/pork mix)
- 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbs crushed tomato (ketchup works, too!)
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 cups beef or veggie stock

- 2 tbs flour
- dash salt and pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 5-6 large potatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, whole and peeled

Method:

1. Soften onions, celery and carrots in a large, hot pan with a drizzle of olive oil.

2. Make sure the pan is really hot and add the meat and cook fully through.

3. Mix in Worcestershire sauce, tomato, and garlic. Gradually, stir in stock. Bring to a simmer and stir in flour. Sprinkle in salt and pepper.

4. Partially cover meat mixture and let it continue to simmer on low for 45 minutes.

5. While the meat is bubbling away, bring the potatoes and garlic to a boil in a pot of heavily salted water. Cook until tender when pierced.

6. Preheat the oven to 350°F

7. Drain the potatoes and garlic and mash them together, adding a little milk, cream or butter, if you like!

8. Pour the meat mixture into a deep baking dish. Round, square, rectangular, just make sure it all fits! Even out the meat across the bottom and season with salt and pepper.

9. Dollop those amazingly garlicy potatoes over the meat and smooth evenly. Use a fork to fluff the potatoes and make a pattern on top(I usually opt for a crosshatch design. Get creative!). Season with salt and pepper.

10. Bake in the oven for roughly 30 minutes, until the potatoes begins to crisp into a lovely golden brown colour. Serve and share!