Shepherd's Pie...My sister's way

I am so blessed to have a loving and supportive family. Thank you God for each and every one of them!

Today, I welcome my middle sister, Vicki, to my blog. She is a busy mom like myself and has found some quick and tasty dinners she fixes for her own busy family. I know you will enjoy this one; it is for all you meat and potato people.

Moms can be sneaky too!

Whenever I can I try to get as many vegetables in to my children however I can. This recipe helps me to do that. My child loves meat and potatoes, so I have sneaked in some other vegetables in the mix. He doesn't even complain, he just gobbles it up. Thank the Lord for small miracles; I will take them when I can. 

I remember many days finding spinach tucked into napkins, Brussels sprouts at the bottom of the trash (when the trash is fairly empty it is not hard to see things), and even the dog and cat looking a little fatter from lima beans or squash. I did really try to get him to try different vegetables, but it seemed like the only ones he liked were corn, potatoes, and green beans. How many times can you eat those three things and not go a little crazy? 

So after finding a particularly large stash of limas crushed and mushed and then being used to paint messages on the kitchen table...yes, I was one of THOSE parents who left him at the table until he finished what was on his plate...yea, right...I gave it up. I decided to try to get sneaky. I let him believe I was only feeding him potatoes, when in fact, I had ground up cauliflower and mixed in with the potatoes. He never caught on to that one, so I tried more things. 

Here is one I hope you too find successful!

Shepherd's Pie

2 lbs ground beef

1 small onion (chopped)

1/2 head of cauliflower (broken into small bite sized pieces)

1 can green beans (drained)

1 can of corn (drained)

1 tsp garlic salt

1 Tbl flour

1-2 c beef broth

2 c instant dry potato flakes

1 c milk

2 Tbl butter

I cook the ground beef in a large skillet on medium high until it is half way done. Then I add the onion and cook until done. I do not drain the beef. I add in the flour and stir for a minute to cook. Then I add in the beef broth to make a gravy for the meat. I like to make it a bit runny so when it is served I can taste it with my potatoes. Depending on how much fat is left in the meat, I use up to two cups of broth. You have to eyeball it. I also season it with salt and pepper. 

While the beef is cooking, I microwave the cauliflower for a few minutes in a bowl with some water and covered with plastic wrap. When it is done I drain it and then use a potato masher on it until it looks like mashed potatoes. 

Then in a pot, I bring to a boil the amount of water called for on the instant potato box to make 6-8 servings. Once it boils, I remove it from the heat and add in the dry flakes, butter, milk, garlic salt, and some pepper. I also mix in the cauliflower and make sure the mix stays slightly loose. You may have to use some extra milk after you add in the cauliflower. Eyeball that as well. 

Then in a ungreased 9 x 13 pan, I spread the beef and onion mix as the bottom layer. Next comes the green beans and corn, then top it all off with the potatoes and cauliflower mix.

Bake for 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees until it is golden brown and the juice is bubbling. As my sister likes to say, "It is yummy."