Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 pounds lean ground beef, turkey or lamb

1/4 cup stock

3/4 cups garden peas

Mashed Potatoes

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled, quartered

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup heavy milk

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F.

Add butter and oil to a large skillet on medium heat. Sautee onions, carrots and garlic until tender for about 7 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Once the vegetables have softened and start to brown a little add the tomato paste and mix evenly. Add the ground beef and cook until beef is no longer pink about 10 minutes. Add the  beef stock. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook and simmer for another 10 minutes. Mix in peas. Transfer mixture to an oven-proof baking dish and spread evenly. Place mashed potato on top of ground beef mixture and spread out evenly, once the top surface has been covered, rake through with a fork so that there are peaks that will brown nicely. Place the dish into the preheated oven and cook until browned about 30 minutes. Spoon out the shepherd's pie and serve.

Fill a large saucepan with cold water and a tablespoon of salt. Add potatoes to the water and bring to a boil. Let potatoes cook until soft about 20 minutes. Once the potatoes are at a desired density, drain the potatoes and place them back into the saucepan for mashing. Add butter and cream and begin to mash potatoes into a semi smooth consistency. Once at desired texture add cheese and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.