hello again lovley helpfull people
has anyone got a good recipe for good old sheperds pie....cottage pie and stew please thank u very much xxxx

Hello Morrissey - this is my take on shepherds/cottage pie (apparently the difference is whether you use minced beef or lamb?! - lamb for shepherds and beef for cottage). I brown off some mince (whichever meat), and then, if necessary drain off some of the fat that has oozed out, and throw in some finely chopped onion and sweat this off. Then, put the whole thing to one side to 'rest' (I am a great believer in resting meat - even mince!) Add a little stock or water - not too much! you want your 'bottom' to be fairly firm! Peel and boil some spuds (not too soggy!) and drain, dry and mash. This done, add a little S&P to your mince if you want to, and some to the mash too if you want, then pile the mince into an ovenproof dish and smooth out. Pile on the mash - you could add a little butter if you like - but I don't! and spread over the meat. Cook in a fairly hot oven until the top browns. - As said - my take!

PS - as you will gather, I like a good old fashioned English dish to be very plain! - Let the meat and tatties speak for themselves I say! This said, I like to serve it with - dare I say it - Baked Beans!

Here's a nice tasty one. Not copywrite. Saute a sliced onion untill soft add minced beef,fry untill browned,add 1 tablespoon of plain flour cook out for 2 min's. Now add plenty of freshly ground black pepper,2 chopped tomatoes, skins removed, half a tablespoon of concentrate tomatoe puree, approx 5 -8 fluid ozs beef stock, 1 teaspoon mixed herbs and 1 teas parsley both dried salt to taste and simmer stirring for 5 minuets. Put into oven proof dish, topped with creamed potatoes, topped again with grated cheddar cheese and decorated with slicec of tomatoe down the centre. Pop into a med' oven untill nice and brown. Decorate with sprigs of fresh parsley.

heres mine...
sweat off some very finely chopped onion, leek, celery and carrot, brown the mince and add, i then chop some back bacon , add, salt /pepper, mixed herbs,beef stock.cook for about 20 mins, then i top with creamy buttered mash, all spiked up, sprinkle that with cracked black pepper and grated cheese and brown in the oven ...

The way I do it is very like Snoozy's but I also add some worcestershire sauce along with the beef stock to add a little kick.

yep so do i, just forgot to mention that, sory!! lol.

Gary Rhodes does a great one that it a grown up version with red wine. One of our favourites!

This is what i do,
sweat some celery, onion and carrot, then add the mince and brown for a while, then add about a cup of milk, let reduce a bit, then add a tin of tomatoes, a dolop of tomatoe puree, a splash of worcestershire sauce and a dash of tabasco sauce, alittle dried origano and two good beef stock cubes, let it cook very slowly for a couple of hours.

oh and forgot some garlic

Hello Morrissey,
My recipe is for cottage/shepherds pie is probably so easy peasy you're gonna love it.
Brown the mince, sweat off some finely chopped onion and small cubes of carrot.. Add beef or lamb stock, cubes will do, I find that Worcestershire sauce gives the pie a bit of a kick but can be a bit acidic so I prefer to use a spoonful of Marmite for flavour and body. At this point you could add herbs of your choice, garlic, tomato puree, wine etc etc oh and loads of black pepper but that's up to you. Cook until the mince & carrot is tender then throw in some frozen peas just until they defrost. Thicken the sauce and pour into a gratin dish. I would recommend adding the mashed potato (or thinly sliced that I would put on Shepherds Pie) when the mince mix has cooled as the potato sinks a bit when it's hot.
If you want, top with cheese and cook for about 30mins in a medium oven until bubbling and gorgeous
Rick Stein did a fabulous Lancashire Hotpot today which was so simple too, you can probably check out his recipe on the website. My fav is beef stew and dumplings, good old comfort food, need it with this crummy weather.
Good luck
Gilly

Hi Morrisey,
here's my recipe....
Take packet of mince, 2 diced onions, 3-4 med carrots, sliced, salt and PLENTY of pepper 5-6bovril cubes<NOT oxo> and cover with enough boiling water out of a kettle to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer for couple of hours, stiring ever so often... When everything is soft slightly thicken with mix of cornflour and water, then drain fluid off into another pan. Put mince and veg into oven proof dish and top with the mashed potatoes and finish off with grated cheese-red works best.
Put under hot grill untill golden and bubbling. While that is happening make a gravy with the juices. Heat them up untill boiling, remove from heat and add more of the cornflour mixture until it is thick enough for you. Its great served with home cooked chips.......enjoy Jo