Food Friday: Shepherd's Pie

This dish requires minimal prep work and utilizes many ingredients that you are likely to have on hand on any given day. It is a hearty, healthy meal and can easily feed four adults.

Ingredients

• 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves fresh garlic
  
• 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
  
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 lb bag frozen vegetables
  
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• Lawry's Seasoned Salt, salt and pepper to taste
• Dried parsley leaves
  

Directions

1. Mash potatoes in whatever fashion you are accustomed. I use a special microwave cooker from Pampered Chef - fast and easy. Mix in butter and two pressed cloves of garlic; set aside.
2. Cook ground beef until well browned with the dried onion flakes. Pour off excess fat, and set aside.
3. While ground beef is cooking, steam the frozen vegetables in a Ziploc "Zip and Steam" bag in the microwave. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
4. Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a casserole dish. Cover with 3/4 of the shredded cheddar cheese. Layer steamed vegetables on top of the meat and cheese at an even depth and season to taste with Lawry's Seasoned Salt, salt and pepper. Top with the mashed potato mixture. Use a large spoon to create peaks in the mashed potato for a polished look when the dish is complete. Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese and finish with dried parsley leaves.
   
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browning begins. To darken the tips of the mashed potato peaks, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end of the baking time.