Shepherd's Pie

This is a food I never thought I would have liked, but I tried it last week and was not disappointed!  The undergraduate nutrition program at U of H has a commercial food lab that they turn into a restaurant once a week.  They feature a different dish each time.  I went there for lunch last week with some of the nutrition professors and shepherd's pie was on the menu.

I decided that it couldn't be that hard to make, and I could even make it healthier.  I looked at a few recipes and made a few changes and came up with dinner for tonight!

1 box instant mashed potatoes (you need about 4 cups)
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons corn starch
3/4 cup fat free, low sodium beef broth
2 tablespoons ketchup
12-16 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables
paprika (optional)


Prepare mashed potatoes according to directions on box.  I used light butter and skim milk to lessen the fat content.  You could use real or left over mashed potatoes - but, I'm lazy and there are never left over mashed potatoes in my house.

Meanwhile, brown ground beef until no longer pink.  I would have like to have added some onion here, but I didn't have any - just for some extra veggies.

Drain off any fat.  Add corn starch and cook for about 1 minute longer.  Add beef broth, ketchup and mixed vegetables.

Cook for about 5 or so minutes - until veggies begin to soften.  I put them in straight out of the freezer, but thawed would work too.  Pour meat mixture into a 9x13 casserole dish.

Spread mashed potatoes on top.  Ideally they would cover the meat mixture, but I waited too long to spread the potatoes and they had slightly cooled so they didn't spread as well and it didn't look as pretty!  Add a few dashes of paprika to the top for some extra color.

I made this last night and put it in the fridge over night so it needed to cook a little bit longer to warm - about 30 minutes at 350.  If you are putting it straight in the over, 20 minutes should be good.

Looks just like it did before it went in...should be good for lunch tomorrow too!  

And...I'll leave you with some cute Halloween pictures of our niece and nephews in their Halloween costumes!  Can't wait to dress Sawyer up next year =)

Brody & Blake as little Reveilles

Cora the owl - clearly related to me going after that second box of Nerds!!

ENJOY!