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!