Cottage Pie Recipe

I think I have finally found my niche. I have created weight loss blogs and blogs about exercise and running and being fit and healthy and in real life,  my passion is for food. I have decided that I need a place to post what keeps me happy outside of my Facebook world food pages. I need a place to post recipes and make comments for myself and perhaps tweak things for next time, so, taking the name that I have used since the inception of my kitchen dabbling, thank you for visiting me. The Miserable Gourmet. Welcome and I hope you enjoy the food that my family enjoys and are tempted to try one of the many dishes that we love. Ok, on with it! 

The first dish I am posting is the last dish that I posted on the local community cooking page that I belong to. I made this last night, so the recipe is fresh in my mind. I tend to not follow traditional recipes and directions so when I find something we like, I have to write it down quickly so that I can try to duplicate it next time! This one is a simple, traditional comfort food that everyone loves. 

Cottage Pie

Cottage pie, often confused with Shepherd's pie is a dish made of ground beef, vegetables, mashed potatoes and comfort. It can be simple, or a little more upscale depending on your ingredients. This one was created with those crunchy onions that everyone in my family loves.

Recipe

2lbs lean ground beef
1 onion diced
1T garlic minced
1/2t salt
1/2t black pepper
1/2t onion powder
1/2t granulated garlic or garlic powder
1/4C ketchup
8oz can tomato sauce
1 knorrs beef bullion cube
1C water
1/4C Worcestershire sauce
1 12oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables
(I use carrots/peas or carrots/peas, corn and green beans)
4-6 cups prepared mashed potatoes, cooled
2C shredded cheese ( this one has cheddar and mozzarella blend) 
1C dried crispy onions


In a pan over medium heat, break up ground beef and move to the side of the pan.
Add onion and let beef and onion cook side by side about two minutes. 
Slowly stir meat and add in onions. 
Add garlic, salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring occasionally  until meat is no longer pink.
Remove pan from stove and drain grease from meat. (I dump the meat into a colander and press it with a wooden spoon to remove most of the grease.)
Put the mean back in the pan, and return to the stove over low heat.
Add ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, broken up bullion and water. 
Simmer, covered about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
Once thickened, turn off heat, remove lid and allow to cool about 15 minutes.

In a large casserole dish, sprayed with cooking spray, layer the meat into the bottom evenly. 
Spread the mixed vegetables across the top of the meat creating a second layer.
I pipe the mashed potatoes and then spread them, but you can gently dollop them on top of the vegetables and then gently spread them across so you don't end up mashing everything together. 
Top with cheese and crispy onions and cover with foil.
Cook in a 350° for 30 minutes, cover and cook an additional 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and onions are golden. 

Hope you enjoy!