Sharing Some Recipes

A friend of mine has a blog and she is so cute, she'll put up a recipe that she comes across and likes. I thought, what a brilliant idea...I think I'll start sharing some of my own! So, consider this my first recipe sharing! And don't worry, they won't be some 40 ingredient 8 hour recipes...I'll keep them simple!
I made this tonight and loved it! It is Shepherd's Pie or Cottage Pie. Shepherd's Pie is made with finely chopped lamb or ground lamb, but if you choose to do finely chopped beef or ground beef, it becomes Cottage Pie! Enjoy!
It is simple to put together! Make mashed potatoes and set aside. Here is my mashed potatoes in case you'd like to try...and they are delicious!

5 Yukon Gold Potatoes, Peeled, Quartered

Heavy Cream, as needed

1 Tbs Butter

Salt and Pepper

Put Potatoes into cold water and bring to a boil. Once tender, drain and be sure to get all the water off. Put in a bowl and add butter, salt and pepper. Heat up cream (in microwave or on the stove top) just to take the chill off. Add to potatoes and mash. Add more or less cream depending on how you like them. (The heavy cream just makes these potatoes taste so much better than just plain old milk!)
So, make your mashed potatoes and sit them aside. For the Pie you'll need

3 Tbs of vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery rib, chopped

2 lbs of ground beef (or ground lamb)

1 Tbs of flour

3/4 cup of beef broth

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine in large skillet, vegetable oil, onion, carrot and celery and cook over med-low heat, stirring occasionally until the veggies beging to look tender, but not browned. Add ground beef and cook over med to med-high heat and lightly brown meat. Once meat is lightly browned, drain off some of the fat and return to heat. Add flour and stir in, let cook for 2 minutes (mixture should begin to "dry" up a little.) Add beef broth, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper, stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer until thickened. Add meat mixture to an 8x8 baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned. Remove, let cool slightly then dish out and serve!

Bon Appétit!

My Cottage Pie hot out of the oven...

...then plated!