Comfort Food: Shepherd's Pie

Last night was Guy Fawkes Night. For those unfamiliar with British history, in what is known as the Gun Powder Plot, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the English Parliament on the Fifth of November back in the 1600s, but failed. All over the UK and other parts of the world, people celebrate the capture of Guy Fawkes by lighting bonfires, fireworks, and, in some cases, burning effigies of Guy. Now, being Catholic, I don't necessarily agree with burning his effigy, as Guy was a Catholic trying to burn down the Protestant-run Parliament, but I can appreciate a good bonfire and fireworks. I also had the opportunity to celebrate bonfire night in Scotland a few years ago, and I've got to say there's nothing like watching fireworks and seeing a huge bonfire lit in the valleys of Arthur's Seat.

To reminisce on my time in Scotland, I occasionally make a very bland, very comforting meal like those I used to indulge on while abroad. However, I make a point to spice it up a bit, because it's really quite tasteless otherwise. Yesterday, in honor of Guy Fawkes Night, I made a shepherd's pie that was a combination of this recipe from YumSugar and this one from Delish. And here is my recipe:

1. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add half a small onion chopped up in small pieces, 2 cloves of garlic minced, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook 5-7 minutes, until onions are more or less translucent. Add one package of frozen veggies plus 1/4 to 1/2 of another package to the pan (I used a combo pack of corn, peas, carrots, and green beans, but you can include any kind of veggie you like). Stir and cook for another minute or two. Transfer everything to a 9x13 baking dish/casserole (you want a shallow dish so the layers aren't too thick).

2. In the same pan you cooked the veggies in, brown 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef until no pink remains. While it's browning, season with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (depends on your own taste). Once fully browned, drain. Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons (or more if you like) Worcestershire sauce, about 3/4 of a small can of tomato paste, and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme into the beef. In a small bowl mix 1 1/2 cups beef broth and 1 tablespoon flour, pour into pan with beef mixture and boil for 1 minute or until the sauce thickens slightly. Spread the beef over the veggies in the baking dish.

3. In a bowl, mix one and a half packages of Bob Evans (or similar) refrigerated mashed potatoes with a few handfuls of shredded cheddar cheese (make it as cheesy as you want). Spread the potato mixture over the beef and vegeatables, making sure to cover the entire baking dish.

4. Bake the shepherd's pie at 425 degrees F for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes start to brown and the sides are bubbly.

If you want to spice it up even more, season the ground beef with cayenne pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon).

Enjoy!