Cottage Pie

If your sweetie is a meat and potatoes fan, then maybe cottage pie is the answer for your Valentine's dinner.  It's easy to put together and doesn't take too long to make, it is a delicious homey dish that satisfies and looks nice too.

What will you need?

1 pound ground beef
1 small chopped onion
1 diced carrot
4 baker potatoes
1/4 cup green peas (optional)
1 cup beef stock or just use hot water
Worcestershire's sauce to taste
Dried Thyme
Dried Rosemary
Salt and pepper
1 egg yolk
Splash of cream

Brown ground beef, drain well, set aside.
Saute onion and diced carrot in a small amount of olive oil until soft.
Place ground beef into pan with the carrot and onion.
Add stock or hot water, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary and Worcestershire's sauce.  Simmer until liquid is absorbed.  Add peas and mix well.  Check seasoning, add Worcestershire's sauce to taste.

 

In the meantime, boil potatoes until fork tender.  Place potatoes back into pot for a few minutes to dry, add a pad of butter and a few splashes of cream and 1 egg yolk.  Mash till soft and fluffy.  Set aside.

Pour beef mixture into a baking dish, using a spoon, drop piles of mashed potato on top of beef.  Spread with a fork creating ridges on top of the potato. 

Place in a preheated oven set at 350 degrees until heated through and the top of the potatoes are browned.  Sometimes I cheat after 20-30 minutes...if the top is not browned to my liking, I place it under the broiler for a few minutes (watch closely to avoid burning). 

  

Voila! It's that easy : ) Plate~serve...enjoy.

Makes great leftovers too! Reheat in the oven or microwave : )

I love those potato swirls on top : )