Shepherd's Pie

__________________________________________________

            FOOD FUNNY
__________________________________________________

My father sent us this one, which may explain why it seems eerily
familiar to me.

While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside
restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the
restaurant and resumed their trip. The woman unknowingly left her
glasses on the table and she didn't miss them until after they had
been driving about twenty minutes. By then, to add to their
aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could
find a place to turn around in order to return to the restaurant to
retrieve her glasses.

All the way back, the husband became the classic grouchy old man.
He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during
the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated
he became. He just wouldn't let up one minute. To her relief, they
finally arrived at the restaurant.

As the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her
glasses, the husband yelled to her, "While you're in there, you
might as well get my hat and credit card."

__________________________________________________

            TODAY'S RECIPE
__________________________________________________

A sudden unexplainable craving for shepherd's pie was the
inspiration for this week's choice of recipes. All of these dishes
would benefit from the addition of a green vegetable or salad so
please don't take the "one-dish" part too literally. Here are the
"Classic One-Dish Meals" I have assembled from around the world:

Monday's Entree
Shepherd's Pie

Tuesday's Entree
Lasagna Bolognese

Wednesday's Entree
Choucroute Garni

Thursday's Entree
Boeuf Bourguignonne

Friday's Entree
Cassoulet

My British readers will be quick to point out that shepherd's pie is
made with lamb or mutton, and that when made with beef this dish is
properly known as cottage pie. Regardless of the meat used, the
rest of the world has come to know this dish as shepherd's pie. My
version has a South American twist with the addition of raisins and
hard-cooked eggs, ingredients typically found in the meat-filled
pastries called empanadas.

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb (450 g) ground lamb or beef
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 15-oz (420 g) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup (60 ml) raisins
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
2 bay (laurel) leaves
1 tsp (5 ml) dried thyme
1 tsp (5 ml) dried marjoram
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
4 large potatoes
1 Tbs (15 ml) butter
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

Saute the ground beef, onion, celery, and garlic in a large skillet
over moderate heat until the meat is browned. Drain the liquid and
do not return to the heat. Stir in the tomato sauce, raisins,
hard-cooked eggs, bay leaves, thyme, marjoram, and black pepper.
Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in salted water until soft and drain.
Add the butter and gradually add the milk while mashing the potatoes
with an electric mixer or hand masher - the consistency of the
mashed potatoes should be firm. Transfer the meat mixture to baking
dish and spread the potatoes evenly over the top. Bake in a
preheated 350F (180C) oven until the potatoes are lightly browned,
about 20 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.
Received on Mon Jun 27 08:04:53 2005