Canuck Eats

Tag: mashed potatoes

  • “Satisfy Your Whole Family with this Delicious Shepherd’s Pie Recipe – A Stay at Home Parent’s Guide”

    “Satisfy Your Whole Family with this Delicious Shepherd’s Pie Recipe – A Stay at Home Parent’s Guide”

    Shepherd’s Pie – An Engaging Blog As A Stay At Home Parent

    As a stay at home parent, I know how difficult it can be to find ways to keep the kiddos happily engaged. One of my favorite activities is cooking together. Not only is it educational, but it also creates delicious and memorable dishes. One of my favorite recipes is Shepherd’s Pie. It’s a hearty and comforting meal that the whole family will love.

    To get started, gather all of the ingredients:
    -2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
    -1 large onion, diced
    -3 cloves of garlic, minced
    -1 pound of ground beef
    -1 teaspoon of dried thyme
    -2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
    -1 tablespoon of tomato paste
    -1 cup of frozen corn
    -1 cup of frozen peas
    -2 cups of beef broth
    -3 large potatoes, peeled and diced
    -2 tablespoons of butter, melted
    -Salt and pepper to taste

    Now that we have all of the ingredients ready, let’s begin. Start by heating the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute or two. Next, add in the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink. Then add in the thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste and stir to combine everything together. Let this simmer for about 5 minutes before adding in the frozen vegetables. Stir everything together and then add in the beef broth. Bring this mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

    While that cooks, prepare the topping by bringing a pot filled with water to a boil. Add in the potatoes and cook until they are tender enough to mash, about 10 minutes. Drain them and then mash them with butter until they are smooth and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste and set aside until you are ready to assemble your pie.

    Once your filling has finished cooking, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and transfer everything into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread out the mashed potatoes on top as evenly as possible before placing it into your preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes or until your topping is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving so that everything has time to set up properly. Enjoy!

    The story behind my Shepherd’s Pie recipe is one that I hold close to my heart because it reminds me of homecooked meals with my parents when I was growing up. My mom used to make this dish whenever we had company over or if she wanted something special for dinner one night; I can still remember how comforting it smelled wafting through our home as everyone gathered around our kitchen table for dinner time conversations and laughter. To me, Shepherd’s Pie will always represent good times spent with family and friends; a reminder that food can bring people together even when they are miles apart in distance or years apart in age!

  • “Learn How to Make Delicious Shepherd’s Pie as a Stay at Home Parent!”

    “Learn How to Make Delicious Shepherd’s Pie as a Stay at Home Parent!”

    Shepherd’s Pie – A Hearty and Delicious Dinner for Busy Stay at Home Parents

    As a stay at home parent, you know how important it is to make sure that your family is eating healthy and delicious meals. One of the most comforting dinner dishes for busy parents is Shepherd’s Pie. This traditional dish is easy to make, nutritious, and can easily be adapted to what your family likes.

    Shepherd’s Pie is a classic comfort food that has been around since the 18th century. In its simplest form, it consists of a mixture of ground beef or lamb, vegetables, aromatics, and a potato topping. The combination of flavors makes it a hearty meal that can easily feed a family of four.

    My grandmother used to make the most delicious Shepherd’s Pie every Sunday dinner. She would use her own recipe which included ground beef, carrots, celery, onions, and garlic cooked in a rich tomato sauce. Topped with a layer of mashed potatoes, she would bake it in the oven until the top was golden brown and bubbly. One bite of her Shepherd’s Pie would bring back fond memories of our family gathered around the table to enjoy her cooking.

    Today I still make my grandmother’s recipe but with some adaptations to fit my own family’s tastes. I use ground turkey instead of beef or lamb and add in some fresh herbs such as parsley or chives for extra flavor. I also like to add some frozen peas or corn for a bit of color and texture. Topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden brown and bubbly, it’s a hearty meal that my family always enjoys.

    Ingredients:
    -1 lb ground turkey
    -2 carrots peeled and finely chopped
    -2 stalks celery finely chopped
    -1 onion finely chopped
    -2 cloves garlic minced
    -1 can diced tomatoes
    -1 tsp dried oregano
    -1 tsp dried basil
    -1/2 cup frozen peas
    -1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
    -Salt and pepper to taste
    For the mashed potatoes:
    -6 medium potatoes peeled and cubed
    -3 Tbsp butter
    -3 Tbsp milk

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large skillet over medium heat add in the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink breaking up as you go along. Add in carrots, celery, onion garlic, tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt & pepper. Stir well until everything is combined and cook for about 10 minutes or until vegetables have softened. Add in frozen peas & corn then stir to combine everything together. Remove from heat then set aside.

    2. In a large pot add potatoes then cover with cold water by 1 inch (2 cm). Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with fork. Drain potatoes then return to pot then mash using potato masher until desired consistency is reached adding in butter & milk as you go along until creamy & smooth.

    3. Assemble Shepherd’s Pie by transferring turkey mixture into 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish then spread mashed potatoes evenly over top using back side of spoon creating peaks & valleys for nice presentation if desired then season lightly with salt & pepper if needed. Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until top is golden brown & bubbly throughout then remove from oven & let cool for 10 minutes before serving warm with your favorite sides such as green salad or roasted vegetables if desired then enjoy!

    Making Shepherd’s Pie once again brings me back to those Sunday dinners with my grandmother who taught me how important it was to serve up delicious meals that were full of love and nourishment no matter how busy life got around us. This classic dish will always have a place on our dinner table today as much as it did back when I was growing up!