This wonderfully delicious, satisfying meal is one of my very favorites! Shepherd’s Pie originated in the late 1800’s in the sheep country of Scotland and northern England, and hence the name, Shepherd’s Pie! An inexpensive British dish made with minced or diced lamb and topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes, peasant housewives invented the pies as a way of repackaging leftovers from the Sunday roast.

Today, Shepherd’s Pie is often prepared with ground beef instead of diced or minced lamb because lamb has become more costly. Regardless whether you choose to use lamb or ground beef, you will find this meal to be very good!

Shepherd’s Pie
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Mashed potatoes – your recipe or a pre-prepared package such as Bob Evans (48 ounces)
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1 yellow onion, medium diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
One 10.75-ounce can condensed tomato soup
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with their juice
One 12-ounce bag of either frozen peas or green beans, thawed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease a 10 x 14-inch casserole dish (or similar sized dish) with butter. Prepare the mashed potatoes.

Cook the ground beef half-way in a large skillet over medium-high heat, seasoned with 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Add the onion and garlic, stirring until the onion is softened and the ground beef is completely cooked. Drain the excess fat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the tomato soup, diced tomatoes with their juice, and the green beans or peas. Simmer a few minutes until heated through.

Spoon the mixture into the casserole dish and smooth out evenly. Spoon and spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheddar.

Bake until bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes and then serve.

Delicious served with fresh sliced tomatoes or a green salad!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

I love the name of this recipe and I think it’s so cool that Shepherd’s Pie involves a covering of white because as a follower of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, my sins are now white as snow, covered, forgiven and forgotten through what my sweet Savior did for me! I am so grateful that Christ calls Himself the Good Shepherd. “He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.” (John 10:3-4 NLT) “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:14) The word “good” in the Greek means “ideal, worthy, choice, excellent” and I would have to say “amen” to every one of those, wouldn’t you? Not only is He good, He “calls His own by name” and “they follow Him because they know His voice.” As a follower of Jesus and as I consider His words, it gives me pause. How clearly do I hear His voice? How well do I really know him? Oh, that I would know Him as well as He knows me! That when the Good Shepherd speaks, directs, and leads, I would hear, obey, and follow! Today and every day, let’s endeavor to know our Good Shepherd more, to hear His voice clearer, and to experience His love deeper.

— Cheri Henderson