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Friday, May 29, 2009

Shepherd's Pie- My Version Of A Very Flexible Dish



As I acknowledged earlier, this dish has many interpretations.. I don't think anyone would have The One And Only recipe for this, but probably think the original had mutton or lamb, and potatoes as two of the ingredients.
My recipe was loosely based on a meal served at a rest home I worked at while in high school and college. Violet Meinke was head cook and was old enough to be a resident of the place... She was one of those widows who never remarried, and worked hard all her life for a living. Heart of gold, with a good dose of wisdom too. I was a picky eater, but as a teen-ager I would eat about anything if I got hungry enough! A free dinner was included in my job (worked 5-9PM) every night. One night, I lifted the cover to the meal to find what looked like glop on a plate.. I pushed it around a little with a fork, trying to determine what it was! There was hamburger in a gravy, a layer of corn, covered in mashed potatoes.. I found nothing offensive, so I ate it, and asked when it would be on the menu again!
I used leftover meatloaf sliced thin for my meat base, covered it in sauteed onions and mushrooms, poured on a bit of brown gravy, layered in corn, and covered with mashed potatoes.. Cooked for an hour at 325F 1/2 hour covered, 1/2 hr. uncovered to brown the potato topping. It made for a substantial meal!
Played Lotto(Keno) yesterday and matched 5 out of 5 for $410! Our wedding anniversary is June 2nd, so this week-end we are going to the casino!

24 comments:

MarmiteToasty said...

Woooo Hooooo Shepherds pie rules :).... we should all do a shepherds pie day and post LOL.... aint it funny how everyone does it differently, I dont think Ive ever made 2 the same in all the years Ive made them......

Yours sounds scrummous as usual, putting everyone else to shame lol

How wonderful on your win.... enjoy it..

x

JihadGene said...

That looks cool! Never had it. Be cool at the casino. Those machines suck down money almost as quick as a community organizer!

Kate said...

That looks like something I'd want to eat when it's raining out and I feel sorry for myself.

buffalodick said...

Marmy- It truly is a flexible dish!
Gene- I got a feeling...plus frau Buff loves to play the slots!
Kate- Comfort food at it's best.. your description would remind you of a shepherd in a hut, on a rainy night.. this was peasant food- soul food for poor white folks as it were...

starbender said...

Mmmmmm, honestly, the first time I ever saw this dish was only 5 yrs ago. It looks a mess, but surprisingly, very tasty.

snowelf said...

Hi Unclebuf,

I find it so hilarious that you were such a picky eater, but now you make the most creative and delicious dishes!! There is hope for my picky Snickerdoodle yet!

--snow

buffalodick said...

StarB- It looks like a car crash, but it is tasty, solid, affordable food for hungry people!
Snowniece- Trying it, no matter what the dish- is the start of enjoying many things..

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I had never head of Shepherd's Pie until a couple of years ago when my girls had it at school and asked me to make it. I've morphed it quite a bit too. I like that you have a layer of corn in yours. This is wonderful comfort food.

buffalodick said...

Katherine- Coming from where you do, I know you would love corn in about anything! It's ability to sweeten and yet stay crisp should be more of an inspiration to cooks, instead of "oh, corn"...

Hit 40 said...

I am looking forward to my boys getting hungry enough to eat anything. I cook great! But...

they are into mac&cheese, grilled cheese, pb&J. Enough said.

I also got free food as a teenager! Fabulous memories of yummy stuff - The Brown Derby. I think it went out of business. I was a cashier/ hostess. Good gig.

Christo Gonzales said...

give me a scoop of this stuff and a stout beer and I will be all set.

Jen said...

Right about now I would take a plate of that, thank you.
Happy Anniversary!!!!

Just telling it like it is said...

I'm not sure what mutton is but I once had squirrel at my grandpas house..delish

Christo Gonzales said...

once again I am a little surprised at the cooking time - an hour? wasnt everything cooked already? put it under the broiler for a few minutes it will brown up nicley....

Akelamalu said...

Congrats on your win Buff and I hope it makes more for you at the casino!

Everyone has their own interpretation of Shepherd's Pie - all good! :)

Donna-FFW said...

Love shepherds pie. I use a basic Joy of Cooking recipe and adapt from there. Some days I cheat and make the dare I say it, Rachael Ray version. :)

buffalodick said...

Hit40- Our menu was more limited when the kids were young!
DogB- You could indeed just broil it, but I don't always know when wife will be home from work..
Jen- Filling stuff! Thanks!
Darngirl- Mutton is sheep, lamb is a sheep less than a year old..
Ake- Made lamb stew this past week, have to post on that next!
Donna- I must have 20 recipes of it in various cookbooks!

Chris said...

My friend Mary used to make shepherds pie whenever Mary had a little lamb...... (ooooh that was so bad)

Neat way to use leftover meatloaf. Happy Anniversary and good luck at the tables!

rachaelgking said...

I've actually never had Shepard's pie... WEIRD. It does sound delicious, although a little wintery, perhaps.

Jeanne Estridge said...

That sounds great!

A word of advice though -- when you're trying to recommend a recipe, it may not be the best start to say you got it at a nusring home. Just sayin'.

By the way, hang onto your hat, because I'm posting a recipe tomorrow. I'm STILL trying to figure out how that happened.

Vodka Mom said...

Why am I always hungry after reading your blog?


(I LOVE your recipes.....)

Belle said...

South Africa has a national dish called 'Bobotie'. It is an interesting version of shepherds pie. The mince has a couple of tablespoons of curry in it, and the top is covered in egg and baked. It is delicious.

buffalodick said...

Chris Next post is what I did with the left over lamb!
Lilu- It is exactly that, but we had a little cold snap for a couple of days, so I tried it!
Jeanne- I write the truth! I won't write about the prune whip they made for dessert though...
Vmom- Thanks!
Belle- That sounds interesting- and hardy!

Chef E said...

I am wishing a bowl of that would just appear in front of me right now, then I will blogcruise while under the influence of Buff's good eats!