Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

This recipe, called Shepherd's Pie or Cottage Pie was developed in England as a way to use up yesterday's roast and leftover mashed potatoes. The meat was ground up using one of those old meat grinders that you had to screw on to the lip of the counter and turn the handle. An onion was thrown in for good measure. It was then mixed with the leftover gravy and any vegetables, in a casserole dish. The mashed potato was spread over the top and the pie put in the oven to heat through.
Makes 6 servings

18 onces of lean ground beef, ground turkey
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced steamed or microwave carrots
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup canned Ready cut tomatoes
1-1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
2-1/2 tablesppon all-purpose flour
1 cup beef broth or bouillon
5 small potatoes
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) diet margarine
1/4 cup nonfat milk, heated
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

In large non-stick skillet coated with non-stick spray, saute ground beef or turkey, and onion until the meat is browned and crumbly. Drain off the fat. Add carots, mushrooms, tomatoes, Worcstershire sauce and rosemary. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes. In screw top container shake flour and beef broth until smooth. Stir into meat mixture and continue to cook until mixture thickens about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, peel potatoes and cut into halves. In large sauce pan, boil potatoes in water about 15 minutes, or until tender. Pierce with a fork or skewer to test for doneness. Drain potatoes and mash thoroughly with potato masher. Mash in diet margarine and hot milk. Add parsley and beat with wooden spoon until potatoes are light and fluffy. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450 degree F. In 2-quart casserole coated with non-stick spray, place meat mixture. Cover with mashed potatoes or use pasty tube to pipe potato as a border. Bake about 20 minutes or until potato is golden brown.

DEAL-A-MEAL cards used:
1 Bread, 3 Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat, 1 Joker/Extra
358 Calories

"DEAL-A-MEAL Golden Edition Cookbook, pg. 142/143"