Cottage Pie

Cottage pie is one of those cozy, comfort meals that fill you up and taste delicious. It's filled with veggies and a tasty broth, covered in cheesy mashed potatoes.

Many people call cottage pie "shepherd's pie". The difference is that cottage pie is made with ground beef or ground turkey. Shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, but they are both essentially the same thing.

Making a cottage pie is easy, even though there are mutliple steps involved.

Ingredients

Ground Beef: I tend to use ground chuck because I really like the flavor. However, it is a fattier type of ground beef which means you'll need to brown it first, drain and then rinse with hot water to get out the fat. You can use any type of ground beef for this recipe though, so if you don't want to go through this extra step, choose a leaner type of ground beef.

Red cooking wine: This brings a special, deeper flavor to the sauce. You can just use extra beef broth if you'd like.

Veggies: You will use onion, garlic, carrots and peas.

Beef broth: Make your own or buy store bought.

Spices: This recipe uses minimal spices, but the flavor is delicous. You'll only need salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

How to Make Cottage Pie

1. First, you'll start with your potaotes. Peel and chop about 4 medium size golden potatoes. Add then to a pan, add salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then cover with water. Turn on the burner and once water is boiling turn down the heat.
2. While potatoes are cooking, chop onions, garlic, and carrots. Set aside.
3. Add your ground meat to a large skillet and brown it. Once all cooked and not pink is remaining, remove skillet from burner, and carefully put cooked meat into a colander over the sink. Rinse with hot water to get rid of all the grease.
4. Put the skillet back on the burner. Make sure heat is turned to low. Add your chopped onions and carrots, and cook until softened about 8-10 minutes.
5. Then add your garlic. Cook until fragrant about 1-2 minutes.
6. Add the meat back into the skillet. Stir to mix all the onion, carrots and onions with the meat. Add your spices, salt, pepper, and Italian Seasoning. Stir well.
7. Then add your flour and tomato paste. Stir well.
8. Now slowly, add the beef broth and red cooking wine. Bring to a boil and cover the skillet for about 10 minutes.
9. Add in the peas, stir well, and then cover the skillet, and cook for about 5-8 minutes.
10. While the meat is finishing cooking make the mashed potatoes.

How to Make Mashed Potatoes

1. Peel and chop about 4-5 medium golden potatoes.
2. Add potatoes to a pot, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Cover the potatoes with water and put the pot on a burner at high heat.
4. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat to med-low making sure that the water is still boiling. You can use a cover or cook uncovered.
5. Cook until the potatoes are soft.
6. Drain the water over the sink by pouring the water and potatoes into a colander.
7. Add the potatoes back into the pot.
8. Add your butter, and more salt to taste.
9. Mash your potatoes with a potato masher until smooth.
10. Grate about 1.5 cups of sharp cheddar cheese and add 3/4 cups of cheese to the mashed potatoes. Stir until cheese has melted.
11. Set mashed potatoes aside.

How to Assemble Your Cottage Pie

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.
2. Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.
3. Put in the meat mixture into the baking dish.
4. Add your mashed potatoes to the top of the meat mixture by dropping spoonfuls of mashed potatoes evently over the top.
5. Carefully spread the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture and then top with remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
6. Carefully put the baking dish into the preheated oven and cook 20-25 minutes or until top is browned.

Serving Suggestions

1. Serve the baked cottage pie with a side salad.