Shepherd's pie

What's for dinner - a cornucopia in black and white
@rocketj1 (6955)
United States
December 10, 2008 5:35pm CST
I just stuck tonight's dinner in the oven. I'm actually a little slow tonight. We usually eat around 6:00. I made a Shepherd's pie. I followed loosely a recipe from my first cookbook (a wedding shower gift from my maid of honor) that I got many years ago. It's the 1989 version of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. The recipe I use calls for cheddar cheese soup, hamburger, onion, veggies, seasonings and potatoes on top. I think that I have heard that there are many versions of what a shepherd's pie should look like. Do you make shepherd's pie? Is it different or basically the same as my version? What's the difference? Does your family like it? Do you?
7 people like this
19 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Dec 08
Hi rocket, my mother made this dish using the meat that was left over from the Sunday joint of beef. She would grind it up and add carrots and onions and any other vegetable. She did not use cheese at all but the meat was in a thick gravy - we adored having it. It was a Monday dinner. T|he original shepher's pie was made form minced lamb - yes lamb rocket.LOL I make it using a layer of cheddar cheese or mixing the cheese in with the potatoes. when the dish is half cooked I sometimes add crumbled corn flakes. I am sure that there are many variations on this dish. Blessings
2 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Not Goat? hehehe I've heard there are lots of versions too and that's why I was curious. How have you been, my friend?
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I think we'd all appreciate your mother's recipes. Hope you share some!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Dec 08
You make me laugh! Goat? No way. My clever DIL managed to get my laptop on dial up at home. It is very slow but I am so glad to be able to check emails whilst at home My mother did not use cream per see but the cream of the top of the milk bottle and lots of real butter. so many recipes. This is a great posting. Blessings
1 person likes this
@lilcee (2703)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I've made shepherds pie before. Actually it was my own version of it lol. All I did was mix some tomatoes with hamburger. Put it in a casserole dish, put some leftover mashed potatoes on top and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Then I baked it til it was hot.
2 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Hmmm... a tomato version sounds good too! Thanks:)
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
12 Dec 08
I have made shepherd's pie before a few times. Mine has ground beef and several vegetables in a brown gravy and then it is topped with mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese stirred into them. It sounds good right now. Maybe I will make it for dinner tonight. I have some ground beef I could thaw out.
1 person likes this
• Canada
13 Dec 08
Mmmmmmmmmmmm sounds like a yummy dinner! I love pasta too! ~Heavens~
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Dec 08
Nope. I forgot to take out the ground beef. We had rotini pasta, grilled chicken, mushrooms, and broccoli tossed in a Parma Rosa sauce instead and fresh baked gingersnaps for dessert.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
13 Dec 08
Did you have that for dinner then? thanks:)
@capirani (2739)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I have really only made it once. That time I had leftover beef stew I think it was, and added mashed potatoes on top and stuck it in the oven to bake. It was good but I always forget about it so I haven't made it since.
2 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
That's a great idea with beef stew! Thanks:)
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
11 Dec 08
My mom used to make a really good shepards pie, but I have no idea how she did it. Unfortunatly she passed almost 2 years ago, so I'll never be able to ask her for the recipe. I tried to make it myself once, but it didn't come out very good. I think mom's had a lot of gravy or something like that. I wish I could remember, because I liked it.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Dec 08
She was about 70. She was not my birth mother, it's rather complicated, but I considered her my mom, she did the majority of raising and taking care of me.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Oh...70 is still fairly young. I think I remember some of your story from another discussion now. I think I remember that this lady was very influential in your life. My sympathies to you!
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I'm sorry to hear about your mom. She must have been fairly young when she passed away. As far as a recipe goes, it's always hard to recreate what mom used to make!
@missybear (11391)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I made Sheppards Pie 1 time. It came out great. Pretty much the same recipe but i put cheddar cheese and Sour Cream in the Mashed Potatoes.
2 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Oooo, that would add a little zip! I like that idea! Thanks:)
1 person likes this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I have never made this but will check into these recipes and try it out. Apprecitae the information and will let you know how it goes. It sounds delicious and pretty easy to make .
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Everybody loves it too! That's not always easy, especially with my daughter! Is it still snowing?
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Dec 08
yes, but its getting colder now. I dont know what it will do through the night, but its not snowing as hard as it was...
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85661)
• United States
12 Dec 08
I have never had Shepherd's pie, and I was wary about trying it. But the ingredients you listed sound really yummy.
1 person likes this
• Canada
13 Dec 08
Oh Pam! You don;t know what you are missing.... I make mine with cooked ground beef and gravy mixed together in the bottom of a casserole dish with peas and carrots mixed in there as well and then I cover the whole thing with mashed potatoes and then grated cheddar cheese and pop it in the oven until it is all bubbly and hot You absolutely must try it!! ~Heavens~
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Maybe it's the name that makes people wary of it. ........Shepherd's pie?......hmmmmmmm.......... something made outdoors?..........by a shepherd? .....hmmmmmmmmmm
• Malaysia
11 Dec 08
I love sheperds pie!! Make it with mince beef and top it off with a really really great mash and just bake it for a 10-20 minutes.. Mmmmm!! Yummy!! My husband don't like sheperd's pie though. But I'll still make it cause I can eat sheperd's pie everyday. Mash potatoes and minced meat in one meal? Who wouldn't like it???
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Exactly! Thanks:)
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
11 Dec 08
Oh yummy yummy yummy yummy! Shepherd's pie is the ultimate comfort food! I haven't ever made it myself though. Maybe one day I'll have a go at it though. I love the stuff!
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Yes it is! We even it it with a nice dab of margarine on top! Mmmmmmm
• United States
12 Dec 08
I have not ever made a Shepard's pie. But it sounds very good indeed! How did it turn out? Was it yummy? did your family like it?
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
13 Dec 08
Yes, they did! Thanks:)
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Wellll... I tried to make shepherd's pie a few nights ago. It didn't turn out very well. I put a layer of ground beef with onions and some ginger and cinnamon on the bottom, a layer of peas and carrots on top of that, and a layer of mashed potatoes on the top. The problem was I had way too many veggies, not enough meat and potatoes, and it was too oily/liquidy! I will definitely drain my peas and meat better next time and use less veggies and more potato and beef. Despite my mistakes it was still pretty yummy :)
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Mine is really more like a casserole in texture than a pie. A bit soupy. More like stew maybe. My kids kind of like it that way. Thanks:)
@Paula1966 (1102)
• United States
11 Dec 08
My mom made shephard's pie a few times when I was growing up. Unfortunately, no one in my family is ever brave enough to let me try it, LOL. When I try to describe it, they look at me with a slightly horrified look. Oh, well, at least I know it tasted good! :)
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
They don't know what they're missin', do they? Thanks:)
• United States
11 Dec 08
sheperds pie is delicious
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
short and sweet! Thanks:)
• Canada
13 Dec 08
Cheddar Cheese Soup....that would be different! I use gravy mixed in the bottom with ground beef and then I add peas and carrots and mix that in with the meat and gravy. Mashed potatoes on top and then grated cheddar cheese and in the oven to bubble and brown! Mmmmmmmmmmmm Even my boy loves this one...It is a big hit here but I shall have to think about the Cheddar Soup sometime for a change perhaps! ~Heavens~
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
11 Dec 08
it sounds great. i have heard others talk about this recipe but i have never made it. i have a friend whose kids love it. my niece makes it all the time too. i will have to try it and see if my husband and son like it. always looking for new ideas to make for dinner anyway.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
If your kids are casserole eaters at all, then they will like it. I know that some kids are picky eaters and don't even want their food touching! My son is not like that at all although my daughter can be somewhat particular. Yet they both like this! Thanks:)
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
11 Dec 08
Hi Rocketj, I have tasted shepherd's pie before, once at an English restaurant-pub, and the other at a hospital cafeteria. And I really love it. There are few outlets here selling this, so it's hard to find. As to making one, I'm hopeless! So your topic really attracts me, or rather, my stomach!
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
I can hear it growling right now! Thanks:)
@luvandpower (2048)
• United States
13 Dec 08
I don't think I ever had it, but it sounds like it's worth dying for. Okay I don't know if it is worth THAT , but still hey heh.
@Nhey16 (2518)
• Philippines
11 Dec 08
My friend had made a shepherd's pie for us one time. She made it with ground meat cooked in tomato sauce with mashed potatoes on top, and then topped with a lot of gravy... it was so yummy.... i have loved it, but after that, I haven't tasted any other shepherd's pie... Your version of it, sounds delicious, my kids love cheese...
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
11 Dec 08
Gravy on top sounds delicious too! Thank you:)