Who needs pizza???

My family had a get-together the other night for my nephew Christian's 13th birthday (I am not old enough for him to be 13 yet...but more on this later). And as has happened more recently (i.e. every family gathering) it was decided that they would order pizza for everyone to enjoy. With one exception. Me. I get the phone call shortly before every party from my dad, "you can't eat pizza can you?" 

"Nope" I respond, "No worries, I'll just bring my own food." 

"Okay"

And that concludes our conversation. Then I have to figure out what I want for dinner. And then prepare it. from scratch. in under an hour. Fun times. 

This time, I decided I wanted Shepherd's Pie (hehe). I had been craving it for a while, and the results would go far...so here is what I ended up with:

 

It was an amazingly yummy, tummy filling, comfort food  goodness of a dish. I freaking love it. I've also had it for 4 out of 5 meals since then. What?? That's not bad! ;)

Here is the recipe. It was adapted from this one. And turned into GF. And it was going to be vegan until I found the heavy cream I had misplaced directly in front of my cutting board with the rest of my mise en place. And I only had ground beef, so the lamb got axed. And I can't stand peas, so those are green beans you see sticking out up there. :)

Shepherd’s Pie

For the potatoes:

• 1 1/2 pounds new potatoes (skin on)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 egg yolk

For the meat filling:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced small
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or more to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 2 tablespoons GF all-purpose flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 cup GF chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon GF Worcestershire sauce (I used Lee & Perrins)
• 2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cut green beans

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the cream and butter into a small saucepan and heat through. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.

While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling.  

Place the oil into a 12-inch sauté pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and sauté just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the beef, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through. 

Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer slowly until the sauce is thickened slightly. Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. 

Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!!

xoxo

p.s. I would like to point out that I totally need pizza, that I worship the ground pizza walks on, but alas...unless it is from mellow mushroom or this one (which I will be trying very, very soon)....it does not love me back. As evidenced by the horrible pain I was in for an entire day after having ONE BITE of Gabby's cheese pizza from pizza hut. **Sigh** I miss you pizza hut.